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FRIDAY EDITION: Fall is here, I have one truckload of leaves for the dump today. I do the leaves as they come down, it makes things a lot easier, we have a 170 foot long tree lined driveway of beech and oak trees. Aurora was beautiful to see last night and had a definite effect on signals on 75 last night, spooky....

A Wisconsinite Heads into Milton’s Path on Purpose

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – A local is in Florida preparing now to help with hurricane Milton relief, and he’s brought crucial communication tools with him.

A Wisconsinite hit the road ahead of Milton’s landfall and made his way to Tampa, Florida. He’s there now helping with a unique and essential need… communication. As cell phone coverage goes out, it can be days to even a week before your family or loved ones even know if you are dead or alive.

“What I’m offering is communications to talk to the outside world.”

Dan Vanevenhoven is a volunteer with Amateur Radio Emergency Services, he lives in the Fox Valley area and a former Tampa Bay area resident.   STORY

Perkins retires emergency coordinator post

Allen Perkins, N1ATS, has retired from his position as Cumberland County amateur radio emergency coordinator.

A member of the Cumberland Plateau Amateur Radio Club, Perkins stepped into the post several years ago. He has also served as assistant emergency coordinator for 13 counties in District 6.

"Through the years, I have been the direct contact with the amateurs that are set up at the National Weather Service to relay actual and current weather to them from our county," he said. "I have used a map of the county that has been squared off in quadrants so as to locate very close to any possible situations that needed emergency assistance. We have club members throughout the county in those squares that can relay actual and current severe weather at the time of occurrence."

Perkins added, "This has been my calling and I regret that I am stepping down as EC, but I will let the person that takes my place that I will still be available if needed and will still be net control for severe weather."

Perkins and his wife, Sandy, moved to Cumberland County in January 2009, months after he retired from Irving Oil LLC of Canada and USA. A former assistant emergency coordinator in Cumberland County, ME, he said part of his retirement plans was to devote time to his beloved hobby of amateur — or ham — radio.

"After a few months here I was advised that many amateurs would meet at the Dairy Queen Monday-Friday in the morning for a chat session," he said. "It was there I met Wayne Alley K4MGE. He was at the time the EC for the county and after our friendship bloomed, he asked me if I would like to accept a passion as AEC for the county. Being involved in law enforcement many years ago and 33 years' military experience, I accepted his invitation."

Perkins remembers Alley was well known and respected at the county Emergency Management Agency office. He introduced Perkins to Keith Garrison, then EMA director, who Perkins describes as down to earth and dedicated to his position and Cumberland County.

Working with Garrison, he transmitted to the National Traffic Service, the nation's information center for amateur radio.

When Garrison retired, Perkins continued his work with EMA and Garrison's successor, Rick Smith.

W3USR Ham Radio Station Dedication Oct. 25 (Pennsylvania)

The University of Scranton will dedicate a state-of-the-art amateur radio station that serves students in the University’s W3USR Amateur Radio Club and is also used for physics courses and research by students and faculty participating with the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) project led by Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., associate professor of physics and engineering at Scranton. Research conducted using the facility has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, the Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) foundation and other organizations.

Located on the fifth floor of the Loyola Science Center, the main station has floor to ceiling glass walls with sweeping views of the city of Scranton. Last academic year, a 40-foot tower with a Skyhawk High Frequency antenna for 14, 21, and 28 MHz, as well as VHF/UHF satellite and microwave antennas, some with rotating mounts were installed, in addition to heavy-duty controllers, all-mode transceivers, speakers, desktop microphones and other components.

Read more – https://bit.ly/3Y20lW3

Edmund Fitzgerald Anniversary-Special Event Ham Radio Station at Dossin Museum (Michigan)

W8F – Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event Amateur Radio Station,
Saturday., November 9, 2024, 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST
Public Event · Hosted by The Livonia Amateur Radio Club, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit Historical Society

To commemorate the November 10, 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, The Livonia Amateur Radio Club (LARC) will operate a Special Event “Ham” radio Station, W8F, at the Museum on Saturday Nov. 9, from 11 AM to 3:30PM EST. We will be communicating with other amateur radio operators around the country and the world, reminding them of the Fitz’ story. We issue a special confirmation certificate to those “hams” who make contact with us.
Museum visitors are welcome to observe our operation, which will be staged in DeRoy Hall.

Read more – Patch: https://bit.ly/3Y1oQCR

THURSDAY EDITION: I imagine we will start seeing the devastation from Milton during the day, most everyuone I know down in Venice made it out ok....

CAARA club member Ron tuning the new Red Cross antenna

Severe solar storm could supercharge auroras across US, impact power grids, NOAA warns

Get ready, aurora chasers: There's a good chance you'll be able to catch a nice light show by the end of the week!

Forecasters with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) are highlighting the potential for a severe geomagnetic storm on Thursday (Oct. 10) and Friday (Oct. 11). That storm is likely to be in the G4 class — the second-highest level on the SWPC's geomagnetic storm scale, which takes into account both severity and potential impacts.  

Indeed, the SWPC has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm warning — the second one they've released since 2005. The other came this past May, in advance of a storm that spawned incredibly dramatic auroral displays.

The culprit? Another massive explosion from the sun

On Tuesday night (Oct. 8), the sunspot AR 3848 produced a strong X1.8-class solar flare. X flares are the most powerful type of flare, and this one triggered radio blackouts across sunlit parts of Earth. SWPC forecasters analyzed the flare using data gathered by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft and determined that it was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a huge eruption of solar particles and magnetic fields. And that CME is directed toward Earth, and is expected to trigger a powerful geomagnetic storm when it hits us.

"If you think of two magnets and they have the same polarity, and [you] try to put them together, they repel. If they're opposite, they connect, and the magnets will stay together. It's the same thing here," Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the SWPC, said at a press conference on Wednesday (Oct. 9). 

"If the magnetic field in the CME is the same as Earth's, we will have an initial impact in effect and immediate enhancement in geomagnetic response, but we probably will not reach those severe levels or potentially higher," Dahl added. "If it's favorably connected as it comes through or changes into that configuration throughout its passage, then we will escalate in responses. That's where the true potential will come in, and we can issue our warnings and subsequent alerts as we reach those levels of activity."

According to SWPC forecasters, this CME is racing toward Earth at speeds between 2.7 million miles per hour and 2.9 million miles per hour (4.3 million kilometers per hour to 4.7 million kilometers per hour) — the fastest one they've seen in a while, Dahl said. It could hit our planet's magnetic field as early as Thursday morning. 

"It's a shock front that arrives here at Earth first, like a strong cold front moving across the U.S. You suddenly get a blast of enormous wind, but it may take a while for the extreme cold temperatures to show up. It's a similar thing with these CMEs," Dahl said.

According to SWPC forecasters, this CME is racing toward Earth at speeds between 2.7 million miles per hour and 2.9 million miles per hour (4.3 million kilometers per hour to 4.7 million kilometers per hour) — the fastest one they've seen in a while, Dahl said. It could hit our planet's magnetic field as early as Thursday morning. 

"It's a shock front that arrives here at Earth first, like a strong cold front moving across the U.S. You suddenly get a blast of enormous wind, but it may take a while for the extreme cold temperatures to show up. It's a similar thing with these CMEs," Dahl said.

"We get the shock front arrival and immediate jump-up of speed and strengthen[ing] of the magnetic field," Dahl added. "The strongest part of the magnetic field, like the extreme cold temperatures, may not show up for a bit because that's in that magnetic cloud portion as it rolls and passes over Earth. For those who are monitoring it and see that we had an arrival, but then things look like they're settling down, they are not. We still have the magnetic cloud to pass over Earth, so keep that in mind."

Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communications and power grids and even damage orbiting satellites. But they can also boost the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights, making them more intense and viewable at lower latitudes than usual.

"We get the shock front arrival and immediate jump-up of speed and strengthen[ing] of the magnetic field," Dahl added. "The strongest part of the magnetic field, like the extreme cold temperatures, may not show up for a bit because that's in that magnetic cloud portion as it rolls and passes over Earth. For those who are monitoring it and see that we had an arrival, but then things look like they're settling down, they are not. We still have the magnetic cloud to pass over Earth, so keep that in mind."

Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communications and power grids and even damage orbiting satellites. But they can also boost the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights, making them more intense and viewable at lower latitudes than usual.

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The lull before the big storm. God bless Florida....

Ham Radio Operators Assemble Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Across the country, amateur radio operators are lending a hand to emergency responders

Broadcasters are launching emergency operations as Hurricane Milton continues course for Florida’s west-central Gulf Coast. National weather forecasts show the storm making landfall late Wednesday or very early Thursday morning.

As large radio broadcasters like Beasley Media Group unite with local television stations to provide round-the-clock storm coverage, they are not the only ones. Amateur radio operators across the country are signing on to assist with emergency communications.

Ham radio operator Pete Stover (KD4QNA), located in Spotsylvania, Va., shared details of how his colleagues are assembling, working with the National Weather Service and local emergency responders. He shares the following status report below.


Here’s what’s on the schedule for amateur radio disaster responders:

In an alert issued by Dick Seeley (N8NIF), international net manager for Salvation Army Team Emergency Network (SATERN), its amateur radio operators across the country will participate in the Hurricane Watch Net. They will activate Tuesday to “line up reporting stations, EOCs, storm shelters using the amateur radio bands on 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), until we lose propagation at night,” said Seeley in the following report.

Read more – RadioWorld: https://bit.ly/4gVfBfY

Hurricane Milton - Storm Updates

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 3:45 PM Eastern Update:

Winlink officials are requesting that all non-essential Winlink traffic (weekly nets, testing, etc.) be postponed until after hurricane Milton has moved on and response efforts have turned to recovery.

"There is still a lot of traffic in the aftermath of Helene, and we expect Milton will add significantly to that. We need to keep the gateways clear for that traffic," they asked in an email. 

Winlink is a system that allows for emails to be sent over a hybrid amateur radio/internet network. It is used extensively in emergency communications and disaster recovery. 


Tuesday, October 8, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Update: 

The following information was received from the Hurricane Watch Net:

The Hurricane Watch Net will Activate this afternoon for Hurricane Milton as planned. There is one minor change. Due to the timing and location of Hurricane Milton, we will operate until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC). Once we’ve read the latest Advisory on Milton, we will suspend operations until 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) at which time we will resume operations on 14.325.00 MHz. We will resume operations on 7.268.00 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC) or at the conclusion of the Waterway Net. The remainder of our plans remain unchanged. 

Activation Plans:

Tuesday, October 8  –  (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)

·       20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).

·       40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC). 

Wednesday, October 9  —  (Landfall Day)

       20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.

       40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Thursday, October 10  —  (Post Storm Reports, Emergency Traffic, Health & Welfare Traffic)

·       20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC).

·       40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). 

Any change to these plans will be posted here, our website, www.hwn.org, and our social media pages. 

Overnight, Milton completed an eyewall replacement cycle. The storm is once again intensifying. How strong will this storm become windwise? Let’s not let that be our focus. A real danger we must consider is going to extreme Storm Surge!

 

 

TUESDAY EDITION: It looks bad for Florida, I will be listening on 7268, the designated frequency for hurricane net news. I hope everyone in floding areas and also mobile homes get their ass out of town or to a cement structure. I went through one hurricane when we owned property in Florida....no fun.

Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Tentative Activation Plans:

Tuesday (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)

·       20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Wednesday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Wednesday (Landfall Day)

·       20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Amateur radio operators vital as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton

The aftermath seen from hurricane Helene across five states left people without power and cell service.

There are communities still recovering from damage. Energy companies are still restoring power.

Now hurricane Milton is closing in on Florida.

A local Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Coordinator says they’re vital components when there’s no power.

He says Ham Radio Operators in Escambia County are working during Helene and expects to prepare for Milton.

There are often crucial sources for communicating when power or cell service goes out.

Read more – https://bit.ly/4dFvAvE

Monday Edition: Listening to local nets on 75, Nearfest was enjoyed by all and they like the new location, nicely done volunteers...10 meters has been so unbelievable as of late, get on the air!

A robot gets a face of living ‘skin’ that allows it to smile

The uncanny feat is the result of new technology using engineered living skin tissue and human-like ligaments to give robots a more natural smile, according to Tokyo University researchers who unveiled their work this week.   STORY

Hurricane Milton - Storm Updates

Sunday, October 6, 2024 9:00 PM Eastern Update:

Hurricane Milton was located just over 300 miles west-northeast of Progreso, Mexico, and 835 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida with winds of 100 miles per hour. Hurricane Milton was moving in an east-southeast direction at 6 mph and is forecasted to arrive near Tampa, Florida on Wednesday as at least a Category 3.

The Hurricane Watch Net is making tentative plans to activate on Tuesday afternoon for Hurricane Milton. The current forecast, issued at 5:00 PM EDT Sunday is calling for Milton to become a powerful Category 4 Hurricane with sustained winds of 145 miles per hour. This is the same strength Helene was at landfall a week ago. Additionally, Milton is expected to be at least a Cat 2 Hurricane after crossing Florida and entering the Atlantic Ocean. Those in Bermuda need to keep a close eye on Milton as this storm could possibly affect the island on Saturday. 

Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Tentative Activation Plans:

Tuesday (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)

·       20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Wednesday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net. 

Wednesday (Landfall Day)

·       20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.

·       40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net.

NEARFEST  EDITION: I have heard nothing but compliments on the new venue New Boston, NH hamfest, a happy group, well organized and great weather...kudos to all involved in making this happen...

 

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

HEROICS AMID HURRICANE HELENE'S DEVASTATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story is Hurricane Helene, which swept through the United States' southern states, bringing what is being called "unprecedented tragedy." Amateur radio can be at its best when times are at their worst, and Randy Sly W4XJ shares an example of that in one area of hardest-hit North Carolina.

RANDY: Since making landfall on the evening of September 26th, Hurricane Helene not only left a trail of devastation but also produced thousands of acts of heroism, especially in the remote areas of the United States impacted by flood waters. In addition to emergency personnel and first responders, those involved included helicopter pilots, teams with pack mules, and other volunteers, including hams providing emergency communications.

Examples of live-saving communication could be heard around the clock on the W4HTP repeater at Mt. Mitchell North Carolina. On Saturday morning, September 28th, Dan Gitro, K2DMG, was in his ham shack and knew that the area was experiencing heavy rains. He got on the W4HTP repeater, which was surprisingly not busy, put out his call to see if anyone needed assistance and immediately received a number of responses from hams in the flooded areas. Since that time, he and the other net controls handled hundreds of health and welfare calls, maintaining continuous communications with the areas of Western North Carolina most seriously affected.

Not only was the net professionally run as it passed health and welfare traffic but it maintained a personal touch, bringing news, hope and encouragement to those in the affected areas. Through the efforts of the repeater’s owner, Harold Perry, W4HTP, listeners from across the country were able to hear the repeater's traffic as it was re-broadcast through the web service, Broadcastify. Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, who was active on the repeater, also provided in-person coverage from Western North Carolina on his website QRPer.com

Hurricane Helene produced a path of destruction for nearly 800 miles from Florida’s Big Bend to Asheville North Carolina and farther north, leaving over 180 dead and hundreds more missing. The aftermath of this Category 4 hurricane brought flood waters of historic proportions and spawned more than 50 tornadoes in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and nearby states.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS; MT MITCHELL REPEATER W4HTP; QRPer.COM; NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

**
BROADCAST STATIONS HIT HARD BY HURRICANE HELENE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Just as Hurricane Francine had done two weeks earlier in Louisiana, Hurricane Helene knocked numerous broadcast stations off the air -- this time, in a number of US southern states. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that report.

KENT: Hurricane Helene, which had a death toll of over 180 and caused landslides, flooding and power outages, also knocked nearly 50 broadcast radio and TV stations off the air by Sunday, September 29th in a number of Southern states. Radio stations took the more severe hit, cutting off one source of critical emergency broadcasts.

Based on outage data received after the storm made landfall in Florida on September 26th, the FCC's Disaster Information Reporting System looked at broadcast stations in Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the storm passed through. Forty-eight broadcast stations - both AM and FM - were knocked off the air while 6 TV stations were reported as having gone dark. Georgia took a particularly severe hit with 3 TV stations, 19 FM radio stations and 3 AM radio stations out of service. North and South Carolina also suffered major broadcast station outages.
According to The Desk, an industry website, most stations went off the air because they had lost power. Others reported transmitter damage as the cause.

The multi-state scene was a larger replay of what happened two weeks earlier in Louisiana, when at least five radio stations were knocked off the air after Hurricane Francine, a Category 2 storm, struck the region.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(FCC; THEDESK.NET)

**
WILDERNESS PROTOCOL AIDS RESCUE IN BACKCOUNTRY IDAHO

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams' ability to follow the Wilderness Protocol proved lifesaving for one injured man in the hilly backcountry of Idaho. George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU has that story.

GEORGE: In January of 2023, Clearwater County Emergency Management's Don Gardner, W7PJ, gave a presentation to other members of the Clearwater Valley Amateur Radio Club about Wilderness Protocol, a method of monitoring frequencies outside repeater range in case emergencies occur in remote areas unserved by regular means of communication. That protocol was kicked swiftly into action for a group of hams on September 21st, after one of them found a severely injured man who had apparently suffered an accident on a gravel road with his four-wheeled off-road vehicle. According to a report in the Clearwater Tribune, Mac W7ENZ, found the man and while he tried to assist him, handed the ham radio he was carrying to Ed K7ELC. Ed called for assistance using 146.520 MHz, the VHF simplex radio frequency designated for Wilderness Protocol. Greg, WX7Z, heard the call and phoned 911. Don told Newsline that Greg knows the area well and was able to give specific directions for EMS and other responders to follow to reach the man. Greg also recommended a landing site for transportation by Life Flight.

Don told Newsline that the injured man, who had difficulty breathing, was in serious condition and transported by Life Flight to a hospital. He was determined to have suffered head injuries, a broken collarbone and broken ribs.

Don told the Clearwater Tribune: [quote] "The more that ham radio operators listen to the radio, the more the chance there is that someone will be listening to take your emergency call." [endquote]

This is George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU

(DON GARDNER, W7PJ; CLEARWATER TRIBUNE)

**
MILESTONE: IARU HANDLES 1,000TH REQUEST FOR AMATEUR SATELLITE FREQUENCY

NEIL/ANCHOR: The International Amateur Radio Union, which coordinates the radio frequencies used by ham radio satellites, announced that it recently processed request number 1,000 for a satellite frequency. The IARU's Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has faced new challenges in recent years with the increasing popularity and growth of CubeSats. With less onerous costs to launch these small satellites, the focus has been on carefully managing the spectrum and ensuring minimal interference with terrestrial services. The IARU issued a statement saying: [quote] "As Earth's orbit becomes more crowded, the IARU's work in frequency coordination will remain critical for future missions." [endquote]

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
SILENT KEYS: SRI LANKAN NOTABLES, VASANTH GURUGE, 4S7VG; SADEEPA SEPALA, 4S6SAD

NEIL/ANCHOR: The Sri Lankan amateur community has suffered the loss of two prominent, well-regarded amateurs, who became Silent Keys one day apart. We have that report from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: It did not take long for Vasanth Guruge, 4S7VG, to make a name for himself among prominent DXers not long after receiving his licence in the mid-1970s. He was also devoted to making amateur radio better for all involved Sri Lankans. His devotion to that mission landed him twice in the role of president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka - first from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2016. The radio society referred to him as a [quote] "cornerstone of the Sri Lankan amateur radio community" [endquote] His many efforts included the establishment of key repeater stations at sites in Sri Lanka that improved communication and connectivity. The radio society statement said: [quote] "He was always willing to lend his time, knowledge, and resources, whether it was tuning duplexers or offering technical advice. Vasanth was not just a leader but a dear friend, mentor, and guiding force for many." [endquote] Vasanth, who died on the 15th of September, was 70.

Sri Lankan amateurs learned that one day earlier, on the 14th of September, Sadeepa Sepala, 4S6SAD, became a Silent Key. Sadeepa was a dependable mentor to operators utilizing the digital modes or the Automatic Packet Reporting System. He was, above all, a kind and respected mentor, according to the radio society website, which praised him for sharing his wide knowledge of astronomy, antenna theory, and radio science with hams and university undergraduates. He took a particular interest in encouraging young students to embrace radio science. The society said on the website: "His passing has left us all in shock."

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(RSSL; 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
SILENT KEY: DEWAYNE HENDRICKS, WA8DZP

NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-known entrepreneur who had a lifelong fascination with all things wireless has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: Dewayne Hendricks, WA8DZP, believed in the versatility of radios and the people who love to use them. A licensed ham since the age of 12, he enjoyed tinkering with wireless in its many forms starting in his teens. Much later in life - in business - he acquired the nickname, "The Broadband Cowboy," from Wired Magazine, in a nod to his work in helping bring wireless broadband networks to nations around the world where they were needed.

Dewayne became a Silent Key on the 20th of September. His longtime friend, Steve Stroh, N8GNJ, publisher of the "Zero Retries" weekly newsletter, said that his death came one month after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

His activity in the wireless world was all-encompassing. He played a major role on the Grants Advisory Committee of Amateur Radio Digital Communications for three years, helping to ensure that a number of international projects received funding. According to the ARDC, he took particular pride in the Slippers2Sat project in Nepal which connected marginalized students with opportunities in space technology. Dewayne later followed up on the progress of many funded projects as an inaugural member of the Grants Evaluation Team.

His deep involvement in the wireless community also included posts he held with a number of nonprofit national amateur radio organizations. He had been a member of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council and a director of the Wireless Communications Alliance, an industry group representing companies making equipment for the license-free frequencies.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ARDC, ZERO RETRIES)

**
BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including D-STAR Reflector 91C on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. local time in Melbourne, Australia.


**
RADIO TELESCOPE SITE TO REOPEN AS SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Puerto Rico, the site where the iconic Arecibo radio telescope once stood is being readied for a new role in the world of science. Andy Morrison K9AWM explains what's coming next.

ANDY: Arecibo C3, the US National Science Foundation's educational science center, is preparing for a full opening soon at the site where the legendary Arecibo Observatory reigned until damages suffered in 2020 compelled the radio telescope's dismantling.

The new facility in Puerto Rico is formally known as the NSF Arecibo Center for Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Science Education, Computational Skills, and Community Engagement. According to its website, the center is building on the legacy of the radio telescope, serving as an epicenter of STEM education research and skill building. Conferences, meetings and workshops will be held there along with public science programs.

An assistant director of the science foundation, James L. Moore III, said in a public statement that the center will embrace all ranges of science from astronomy and radio science to biology, computer science and natural science. Students and educators visited the center this past summer to attend some of the programs that were launched on a pilot basis.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(IFL SCIENCE, ARECIBO C3 WEBSITE)

**

RUSSIA, BELARUS, ELIGIBLE AGAIN FOR CQ-SPONSORED CONTEST AWARDS

NEIL/ANCHOR: CQ World Wide contests have announced a return to a practice regarding award eligibility. We have those details from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: Following meetings with contest directors and World Wide Radio Operators Foundation leadership, the organizers of CQ World Wide contests have restored eligibility for awards to qualifying amateurs from Russia and Belarus. That policy change took effect during the weekend of the CQ World Wide RTTY contest, which took place on the 28th and 29th of September.

CQ World Wide Contest Director John Dorr, K1AR, announced on the contest blog that the elimination of those operators' eligibility for award plaques -- a decision made two years ago -- was never formally incorporated into any contest rules; it was merely a policy statement. That policy is no longer in effect, bringing the contests into alignment with so many other competitions around the world.

This is Sel Embee K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(CQ WW CONTEST BLOG)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Markus, DJ4EL, operating as A5/DJ4EL from the islands of Benidorm, Escombreras, and Tabarca, all part of IOTA group number EU-093, from the 17th through to the 25th of October. See QRZ.com for QSL and operating details.

Find Aldir, PY1SAD, active as 8R1TM from Georgetown, Guyana between the 12th of October and the 24th of November. He will be using CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands. He will also be operating satellite. For QSL information, see QRZ.com.

Bo, OZ1DJJ [Oh Zed One Dee Jay Jay] is using the callsign OX3LX [Oh X Three L X] from Greenland until the 15th of October. For QSL and operating details see QRZ.com

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: A QSO TO REMEMBER, 100 YEARS LATER

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our final story begins 100 years ago. In October of 1924, a young radio enthusiast in North London, England and a sheep farmer in New Zealand changed the shape of the world via radio with a remarkable on-air contact. Now, amateur stations are getting ready to celebrate that QSO's centennial. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what's going on.

JIM: Hams in the UK and New Zealand are getting ready to activate special callsigns to mark the first trans-global two-way radio communication and will be operating from the locations where it happened: the Mill Hill School in North London where young Cecil Goyder, G2SZ, made radio contact with Frank Bell, Z4AA, a ham in Shag Valley, Otago. The date of the hour-long CW contact was the 18th of October 1924.

Here is the voice of the late Frank Bell, who in 1974 recalled that day on the occasion of the QSO's 50th anniversary: [insert clip starting at 1:29] "We were both a bit shocked I suppose, really, and Cecil Goyder, whom I was talking to in Mill Hill School near London, he said he was a bit skeptical about it, he said if you are really New Zealand 4AA, cable. Which we did and from then on pretty well every night, for several nights running, we kept in touch." [end clip]

Cecil's callsign will be back on the air in hopes of contacting hams around the world as operators call CQ from the school from the 14th through to the 20th of October. Frank's original callsign has been modified to ZL4AA for the New Zealand operation which will be on the air from the 12th through to the 20th of October.

The big day, of course, is the 18th of October, when hams will re-enact that first contact, using a frequency as close as possible to the 1924 original, which was around 92 metres).

Meanwhile, be listening as well for other stations taking part in the celebration: GB2NZ is on the air through the 26th of October 2024 throughout the UK. ZM100DX is on the air through the 26th of December throughout New Zealand. The New Zealand station will be using CW, SSB and a number of other modes. The QSL manager for all four special-event calls is MØOXO [M Zero Oh Ex Oh].

See GB2NZ dot com (GB2NZ.com) for further details.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(NZNET NEWS, RSGB)

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HAIKU FOR YOU

Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. If you're not too busy tuning your antennas or chasing the latest DXpedition, pick up a pencil and share your experience by sending an original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website, arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku -- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; AMSAT News Service; Arecibo C3 website; Associated Press; Amateur Radio Digital Communications; ARRL; Clearwater Tribune; CQ WorldWide Contest Blog; David Behar K7DB; TheDesk.net; Don Gardner, W7PJ; FCC; 425DXNews; IFL Science; Mt. Mitchell Repeater; National Hurricane Center; NZ Net Newsletter; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; QRPer.com; Radio Society of Sri Lanka; shortwaveradio.de; Zero Retries; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

Amateur Radio and Robot Play Ball!

The Staten Island Technical High School Robotics Team, in Staten Island, New York,  took its knowledge and skills to the baseball diamond.

The team created a robot that was capable of throwing a ceremonial first pitch and, in early September, the members were invited to showcase and execute their robot at a Staten Island FerryHawks minor league game. But Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, engineering and technology teacher, said there was a major league snag.

“Approximately 30 minutes before ‘showtime,’ the team discovered a number of hardware issues that occurred during transport, followed by the complete destruction of the main servo wiring system during a subsequent test,” he said. “Cell phone calls and texts could not handle the communication chaos, and we had to resort to our established amateur radio simplex frequency to coordinate equipment and logistics in those final minutes. The team was spread out between the field, stands, and merchandise table in the upper deck area. Without radios, there likely would not have been enough time to coordinate efforts to get the job done...but in the end, the team was able to pull it off.”

You can watch the robot’s first pitch on the school’s Facebook page.

All 26 members of the robotics team hold amateur radio licenses, with 2 Extra Class and 3 General licenses in the mix.

“Cool stuff,” responded ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, to the robot’s ceremonial first pitch.

Staten Island Technical High School is the first New York City school to receive a grant from ARRL. Goodgame said ARRL has been working with the school to build and equip an amateur radio station, to test and license students, and to put science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) kits in the classroom, thanks to a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). Henriques attended the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology earlier this year. The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is a donor-funded professional development program designed to help teachers elevate their STEM programs through the use of wireless technology.

Biggest solar flare since 2017 erupts from sun and Earth is in the firing line (video)

The sun has just unleashed its most powerful solar flare this cycle, a colossal X-class eruption. 

The X9.05 solar flare peaked at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), triggering shortwave radio blackouts over Africa and Europe, the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of eruption. 

The solar flare emanated from the sunspot group AR3842, which has made headlines before. On Oct. 1, the same sunspot region fired off a powerful X7.1 solar flare and unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a plume of plasma and magnetic field — which is currently barreling toward Earth

Digital Bumper Sticker Tells Everyone What You’re Listening To

Bumper stickers are usually political, crude, or otherwise inflammatory. Rather a more fun example is this digital creation from [Guy Dupont], who made a bumper sticker that broadcasts what he’s listening to on the stereo.

[Guy] found a nice wide 11-inch bar LCD that was the right aspect ratio to suit the “bumper sticker” aesthetic. It had an HDMI interface, so he decided to drive it with a Raspbery Pi Zero 2W. Power for the system was derived from 12-volt lines going to his vehicle’s rear view camera. For an enclosure, he simply stuck the Pi and a buck converter on the back of the display and heat shrinked the whole thing. He also threw some magnets in there to stick it to the car.

How does the screen know what song to display? Well, [Guy] already has his Spotify listens scrobbling to Last.fm. Thus, he just made a script that scrapes his Last.fm page, which runs on a Particle Boron microcontroller, which has a cellular connection of its own. The Boron gets the song data, and spits it over to the Pi via Bluetooth. Then the Pi generates an image for the display.

Oh, and there’s also a neat Easter Egg. In honor of brat summer, the background changes to #8ACE00 green if the system detects you’re listening to Charli XCX. Neat.

It’s a neat build with a lot of moving parts. We’re surprised we haven’t seen anything like this before though, it’s really rather fun. Also, how’s about that taste of the old Internet—when was the last time you heard somebody mention scrobbling? Gosh, we’re getting old.

We’ve featured some of [Guy’s] works before, too, like the amusing Mailblocks project. Video after the break.

THURSDAY EDITION: It still looks good for the new Nearfest at New Boston, NH. I will pass, it's a 2 hour drive and I have nothing to sell or need to buy. I would like to see my ham friends but I can do that at HRO at one of the lunch sessions....Ham video on ham s helping in NC

Forget cell phones -- amateur radio shines in the wake of Helene

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Helene knocked power out across the Carolinas resulting in cellular and internet outages. But when modern technology fails, wireless radios shine.

"We have a specific mission and that is to provide emergency communications in disasters," said Dan Gitro, a licensed amateur radio operator in Iredell County who is known to his fellow ham radio enthusiasts as K2DMG.

Amateur radio operators, also known as ham radio operators, stepped up to offer a helping hand.

"We don’t need modern technology for amateur radio," Gitro explained. "We need a battery, a generator, something to power a radio and you can have communication anywhere in the world."

That's how Gitro has been able to coordinate welfare checks and emergency broadcasts after Helene.

"We are still taking reports from people in areas who have not heard from first response," he told WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday.

It's a radio network Callen Holmes said she is grateful for after ham radio operators helped her reach her 93-year-old grandfather Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.

"They had lost power. We knew that, we had tried to get in touch with them. Service is bad," Holmes explained.

Holmes’ father and brother decided to make the drive from Alabama to pick up their loved one. She shared how they tapped into the network.

"I was listening to the ham radio, writing down every single street that they could take," she said "A lot of reports were coming over the air saying 'this road's closed.'"

The radio communications allowed them to make it safely and get Holmes the reassurance she needed.

"Hearing that they were alive and well, was so great," she said. "Seeing him in person was amazing. I was able to give him a big hug."

It is reunions like this that fuel Gitro through long days.

"As long as there is a need out there, I'll be right here in this seat to help folks," Gitro said.

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Different forecast for the hamfest this weekend,,,oops.....

In times of devastation many turn to old school tech to keep communication lines open

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - A major problem in the wake of Helene has been broken lines of communications.

Cellular service in the affected areas is spotty at best and there’s even been reports of radio stations being knocked off the air. But thanks to old school technology, people who are in need of information can still get it through HAM radio.

It’s a vital link during a critical time.

“These are all areas that have been hit extremely hard,” Dan Gitro said.

The damage is widespread and overwhelming, and when the communications go dark because of power outages many turn to old school tech to keep the information pipeline flowing.

“In times like this, this is where HAMS really shine,” said Gitro.

Gitro has been a HAM radio operator for years spending most of his time talking to people all around the world. But during the crisis going on in our western counties…his attention is laser-focused.

“We are passing information in and out of the affected areas in western North Carolina right now for family members looking for loved ones looking relatives in the affected areas,” Gitro said.

This back bedroom in Dan’s house has become the central command center for any and all information for those who found themselves in the path of Helene.

“Our communication with them on the radio is vital,” Gitro explained.

From his chair, Gitro monitors and relays stories and needs of the hardest-hit areas. Some of what he hears is simply heartbreaking.”

“Bees Creek, that area has been literally been wiped off the map,” the HAM operator told us.

HAM operators notify local officials who can affect a more precise and rapid rescue or recovery effort than they would be able to do otherwise.

“A lot of people have just gone ahead and evacuated,” could be heard over the HAM chatter.

But in talking with many on air Tuesday afternoon, not all intentions are honorable.

“There is definitely looting going on in the Swannanoa area unfortunately,” said Ed, a radio operator in Swannanoa.

But the majority of the people showing up are there to help and not harm as HAM operators take the reigns directing people where to go to find the greatest need.

“People were lucky to survive and we’re still in survival mode because the waters haven’t receded yet,” Gitro said.

And it may be days before some of these areas are to be even accessible. Those radio operators say they’ll stay on air until the job is done.

Universe as We Know It May End Sooner Than Expected

The ‘Sombrero Potential’ as seen with the Higgs mechanism.

One of the exciting aspects of some fields of physics is that they involve calculating the expected time until the Universe ends or experiences fundamental shifts that would render most if not all of the ‘laws of physics’ invalid. Within the Standard Model (SM), the false vacuum state is one such aspect, as it implies that the Universe’s quantum fields that determine macrolevel effects like mass can shift through quantum field decay into a lower, more stable state. One such field is the Higgs field, which according to a team of researchers may decay sooner than we had previously assumed.

As the Higgs field (through the Higgs boson) is responsible for giving particles mass, it’s not hard to imagine the chaos that would ensue if part of the Higgs field were to decay and cause a spherical ripple effect throughout the Universe. Particle masses would change, along with all associated physics, as suddenly the lower Higgs field state means that everything has significantly more mass. To say that it would shake up the Universe would an understatement.

Of course, this expected time-to-decay has only shifted from 10794 years to 10790 years with the corrections to the  previous calculations as provided in the paper by [Pietro Baratella] and colleagues, and they also refer to it as ‘slightly shorter’. A sidenote here is also that the electroweak vacuum’s decay is part of the imperfect SM, which much like the false vacuum hypothesis are part of these models, and not based on clear empirical evidence (yet).

TUESDAY EDITION: I wonder if the newly located Nearfest is starting  a tradition of always being sunny and nice unlike the always rainy and cold Deerfield venue? The weather looks great for this weekend.....

Helene - Storm Updates

Monday, September 30, 2024, 3:30 PM Eastern Update: 

ARRL leadership has been engaged throughout the weekend with key volunteers in the southeast, especially in hard hit North Carolina, to facilitate any support headquarters can provide to the impacted area. The devastation is widespread and greater than many seasoned emergency responders have ever seen before.

There are ad-hoc health and welfare nets that have popped up, parallel to official emergency communications efforts. Amateur radio operators in the area that have the means to communicate have been facilitating some level of traffic on several repeaters located on mountaintops in North and South Carolina.

High frequency (HF) ham bands are also being used for health and welfare, specifically 7232 KHz and 3923 KHz.

There are amateur radio operators working with several aviation relief organizations which mobilize general aviation aircraft donated by private owners to ferry in supplies. The challenge is widespread devastation of road networks to get anything in to the “last mile” of distribution.

ARRL remains ready to mobilize HamAid equipment as needed. HamAid is a supply of deployment-ready amateur radio gear that can be dispatched across the country within hours, providing amateur radio communications when local equipment has been lost or damaged due to a disaster. 

Candidate for ARRL Northwestern Division Director Disqualified; Tharp Declared Elected

Dan Marler, K7REX, the challenger seeking the position of ARRL Northwestern Division Director, was declared disqualified Saturday by the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee (E&E). Marler was running against incumbent Mark Tharp, KB7HDX. Due to the disqualification, the committee has declared Tharp elected.

ARRL’s election rules state, “All matters concerning campaigns, including remedies for issues that arise, will be conclusively determined by the Ethics and Elections Committee.” According to Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB, writing as Chair of and for E&E, the committee responded to a complaint received from a member of the Northwestern Division involving inaccurate claims made by the candidate that violated ARRL’s election rules. The rules state that the “standard of truth applies to all campaign material by a candidate” and that candidate statements must be “in all material respects, truthful and not misleading.”

On September 26, Marler was notified by E&E that a candidate statement he issued contained material that the committee deemed was not in compliance with the rules. Baker said Marler agreed to correct certain statements and issue retractions where necessary to comply with the rules. On September 27, Marler was reminded and instructed that the corrections must be made within 24 hours.

On the evening of September 28, Baker e-mailed a letter to Marler on behalf of E&E, noticing him of the decision to disqualify him. Baker said E&E concluded that Marler rejected the committee’s requests as determined from an additional campaign statement that repeated the previous incorrect claims despite being told otherwise.

 

MONDAY EDITION: The weather forecast for the NeARFEST ham event this Friday and Saturday still looks perfect....

ARISS – Talk with Astronauts
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is an international program that lets students use amateur (ham) radio to talk directly with crew members living and working on the International Space Station. ARISS supports hands-on learning about radio and electronics and has organized live events, called contacts, that connect students to the Space Station. Talking with an astronaut is an exciting and memorable way for students to apply the science and skills they learn through this program. These experiences inspire engagement in STEM studies and interest in STEM careers.

In preparation for a contact, students choose their questions and practice using proper protocol and enunciation for clear communication over ham radio. Recent contacts took place at schools in France, Greece, India, and Russia. A few contacts have even used digital amateur television (HamTV).

Schools can submit proposals to ARISS to arrange direct contacts, where a ham radio at the school connects to the ISS, or telebridge contacts, where the school connects through telephone to a ham radio ground station linked to the ISS.

ARISS – Radio Experimenters Kit
Students use simple radio communications equipment to send messages to and from the ISS. For the radio, they use software running on a computer, in a system called software defined radio (SDR). They also use a small hand-held antenna, that they point at the ISS when it flies over. They learn about radios, communication, software, ISS, orbital tracks and related STEM fields. They need a ham radio license (or an affliation with a local ham) to send messages, but can receive with no license.   LINK

How to stay in touch when the grid goes down: ham radio, Wi-Fi, and other lifelines during disasters

We were spared, but many of our friends were not. You know what I’m talking about—Hurricane Helene. Last week, Helene ravaged Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It’s hard to see the images and videos of the devastation. Many areas will never be the same. There’s a good chance many of you have friends in the affected areas. As I write this article, recovery efforts are underway.

Before the storm came ashore on Thursday, September 26, we double-checked our preparations here at home in Fayette County. Based on the stock levels at local stores, it looks like many of you made preparations ahead of time, and that’s good. Two months ago, I shared my thoughts about emergency preparations, and it’s worth a read (or re-read). It’s important to have the essentials covered ahead of time.

During the night of 9/26 and the early morning hours of 9/27, I was running a radio net for Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) as a volunteer with the Georgia AuxComm program. Part of my job was to take field reports that came in over the radio. As I worked my radio, I also monitored two systems designed for emergency response personnel—WebEOC, which is used for coordination between emergency management agencies in Georgia, and NWSChat, which is used by the National Weather Service to communicate with various partner organizations. Both systems are restricted “back channel” methods of communication and coordination. I experienced two emotions as I watched the reports come in.   STORY

Volunteers – The Heart and Soul of ARRL Headquarters

ARRL is quite privileged to have the service of many member-volunteers. Your national association could not function without the tens of thousands of dedicated hams who give freely of their time and talents to serve the greater amateur radio community.

The ARRL Field Organization is comprised entirely of volunteers – Section Managers, Affiliated Club Coordinators, Emergency Coordinators, and all other positions are all filled by those who have stepped up for the task. In central Connecticut, where ARRL is based, we enjoy a dedicated group of volunteers who come to ARRL Headquarters to serve.

“The volunteers really keep this place functioning,” said ARRL Member Services Representative Chanel Holley. Holley coordinates the volunteers in her role as ARRL’s receptionist. “They’re always happy to be here and bring so much dedication to their service,” she said.

ARRL is sincerely grateful to the HQ volunteer team. If you come to visit ARRL Headquarters, and the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, join us in thanking this great crew who serve in many different functions including W1AW, ARRL Library, QSL Bureau, and the ARRL Lab.

 

WEEKEND EDITION: The weather forecast for the NeARFEST ham event this Friday and Saturday looks perfect......Thanks Joe-WPO for the surprise in the mail....

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

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GREENCUBE MISSION ENDS, RADIATION DAMAGE SUSPECTED

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the demise of the GreenCube satellite. It was loved and well-used by avid DXers and DXpeditioners as well as those making more casual satellite contacts. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us what happened.

JEREMY: The popular GreenCube satellite, IO-117, is no longer functioning - the result of what is believed to be radiation damage suffered in Medium Earth Orbit.

The satellite, which is owned by the Italian Space Agency, was developed by S5LAB at Sapienza University of Rome. S5LAB attempted to send commands to reactivate it earlier this month after it suffered a communication blackout, according to a report by AMSAT News Service. The team is not optimistic that GreenCube can be restored to service.

S5LAB acknowledged that high radiation exposure can be an issue in Medium Earth Orbit, adding that it was unclear whether GreenCube would have a successor. The AMSAT report said that GreenCube is not the only Medium Earth Orbit satellite that has been affected by radiation levels. It was the first satellite in Medium Earth Orbit to carry an amateur radio payload.
 
S5LAB and AMSAT-Italia expect to hold a webinar about GreenCube's mission, which it said exceeded all expectations the team had for it when it was launched in July of 2022.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMSAT NEWS, AMSAT-UK)

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US LAWMAKERS WAIT TO VOTE ON AM RADIO LEGISLATION

DON/ANCHOR: In Washington, DC, public-safety legislation awaits an important vote: The proposed law would require all passenger cars sold in the US to continue to make AM radio available. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that story.

KENT: The US House of Representatives is expected to consider a measure that mandates AM radio in all new cars sold in the US, whether they are manufactured domestically or imported. The bill, known as the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act, moved to the full floor for lawmakers' consideration following a 45-2 vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Observers say that a House vote could happen as early as the next few weeks before the US elections take place in November -- or it would be delayed.

The US Senate version of the bill has already been approved by that chamber's Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. It still awaits a full floor vote but has a majority of lawmakers supporting it on both sides of the aisle.

The issue of AM radio's necessity in vehicles has escalated the debate over public safety, as proponents such as the National Association of Broadcasters and federal emergency officials have advocated in favor retaining AM radio for its public-safety role, especially when carrying alerts in rural areas.

Some manufacturers of electric cars are looking to eliminate AM radio from their vehicles, claiming that RF interference from their cars' electronic systems compromises AM radio reception.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD.COM)

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NEW ZEALAND YL GROUP ENDS FORMAL OPERATION

DON/ANCHOR: After a few years of struggling with membership issues, a New Zealand group for YLs has dropped its formal operation. We hear the details from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: New Zealand's Women Amateur Radio Operators group has ceased to exist. After attempting to survive some troubled years, the organisation's executive committee voted in 2020 to go into recess, citing a lack of support from the membership.

According to the website of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, the group's creation in 1962 arose from a need to address special requirements of YLs at a time when very few female licensees were on the air.

An announcement in YL Harmonics, the bimonthly newsletter of the YLRL, confirms that the group will exist now only for social purposes and will retain its callsign ZL6YL. Ngaire Jury, ZL2UJT, wrote in the newsletter that a vote was taken to continue with social activities without any fees. The new group has adopted the name, the NZ YL Group.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(YLRL HARMONICS)

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SUNITA WILLIAMS, KD5PLB, TAKES OVER COMMAND OF ISS

DON/ANCHOR: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, has taken the helm of the International Space Station as its new commander as she and fellow crew member, Butch Wilmore, await their return to Earth in February 2025. The pair's mission aboard the ISS was supposed to last only eight days following their arrival via Boeing's Starliner, but complications with the spacecraft delayed their departure and Starliner returned to Earth crewless. By the time the duo returns home aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, they will have been in space eight months. This is Williams’ second time as commander of the ISS.

(SPACE.COM)

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SILENT KEY: IARU REGION 3 CO-ORGANIZER PETE WILLIAMS, FORMER VK3IZ

DON/ANCHOR: A notable pioneer who helped create the IARU Region 3 organization has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Having secured his amateur licence in the wake of World War II, Pete Williams, the former VK3IZ, wasted no time in immersing himself in service to the amateur radio community. By the late '60s and early '70s, he was devoting his efforts to the Wireless Institute of Australia. Casting his eye more broadly, he also joined with a small team of other Australian amateurs to propose and establish Region 3 of the International Amateur Radio Union. As a businessman, Pete and other radio colleagues cofounded the Vicom company, importing Icom radios and other ham radio products.
A lifelong fan of radio restorations, Pete paired that talent with his love of military communications technology, especially the legendary Collins R-390 receiver. He restored and resold many of them over the years, along with the S-line and other models.
With his hearing and eyesight posing challenges later in life, Pete let his licence lapse a few years ago. The callsign he had held for more than 70 years was acquired by another amateur in 2023.
Pete, who became a Silent Key on Saturday September 14th, was 94. Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, editor in chief of Amateur Radio magazine, told Newsline that a longer article about Pete and his life will appear in the magazine's next issue.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB

(ROGER HARRISON, VK2ZRH)

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NEED TO WORK WYOMING? COME AND GET IT

DON/ANCHOR: If you're hoping for an easy contact with Wyoming for any number of awards, you'd better act fast. Patrick Clark K8TAC tells us why.

PATRICK: In case you're one state shy of Worked All States, and in case that one state happens to be Wyoming, look no farther than the W7Y special event. The Shy-Wy Amateur Radio Club has organized this annual event, which it calls "Come and Get Wyoming." Whether you're a DX station or here in the US, if you need a Wyoming contact on a specific band or in a certain mode, this is your chance. Hams throughout Wyoming have been volunteering at least an hour of their time since the 21st of September to make sure as many contacts can be made before the event ends on Monday the 30th of the month. QSL details and a little history of the W7Y special event can be found on QRZ.com - while there's still time!

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(QRZ.COM)

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HAMSCI RESEACHER REPORTS ON SPACE-WEATHER MONITOR TOOL

DON/ANCHOR: If you're an avid space-weather observer, this report from Sel Embee KB3TZD is for you.

SEL: Scientists and amateur radio operators are proud to announce that a member of the HamSCI scientific team has released a research paper that delves into the development of a low-cost magnetometer system permitting coordinated space-weather monitoring. The author of the paper, Dr. Hyomin Kim, PhD, KD2MCR, is an assistant professor of physics at the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, a component of New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Institute for Space Weather Sciences.

The paper is a key example of how HamSCI's work melds the world of professional research with the activities of amateur radio operators. A magnetometer measures changes and anomalies in the magnetic atmosphere of the earth.

For a link to the paper, see the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org.

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APRS FOUNDATION SEEKS SUPPORT THROUGH MEMBERSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: The APRS Foundation is encouraging hams to become members and help keep the dream and hard work of a prominent Silent Key alive and thriving. Neil Rapp WB9VPG tells us what membership is expected to accomplish.

NEIL: When Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, became a Silent Key in February of 2022, he left behind the legacy of the Automatic Packet Reporting System, APRS, which the pioneering amateur had developed. The APRS Foundation was formed later that same year to ensure that APRS would be preserved and advanced so it could continue its vital role enabling real-time tracking over the amateur frequencies.

Hams are now able to support the APRS Foundation by becoming members. The $20 membership helps with the foundation's operating costs and assists in the continuation of Bob's work. The foundation also encourages participation online in APRS@groups.io and the APRS special interest group email reflector.

The foundation's president, Jeff Hochberg, W4JEW, writes on the foundation website that continued engagement of amateurs will help APRS out of what he describes as a "precarious position."  Jeff writes [quote] "While there are undoubtedly thousands of APRS users worldwide, the number doesn’t seem to grow as it used to." [endquote].

For more details about the foundation, visit aprsfoundation dot org (aprsfoundation.org)

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY, APRSFOUNDATION.ORG)

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ORIENTEERING ENTHUSIASTS PREP FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: If you enjoy amateur radio direction-finding, Chelsea, Michigan is the place to be for you in early October. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us why.

DAVE: Yes, there's a trophy at stake here - it's known as the Paul Bunyan trophy - but this transmitter-hunting contest is not just for fun. The 12th IARU Region 2 / 23rd ARRL USA Radio Orienteering Championship engages skills that are useful in spectrum management, search and rescue and animal tracking, among other applications. The hosting group is the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club and ham radio clubs throughout the southeastern part of the state.

From the 5th to the 13th of October, competitors will venture out into the woods in search of hidden transmitters in the Chelsea, Michigan area for an intense period of radio orienteering, also known as amateur radio direction finding. A training camp will be held before the event, led by top radio orienteers Charles Scharlau, NZØI, and Nadia Scharlau, KO4ADV. The training camp will take place on the 5th and 6th of October and beginners are welcome.

The event director, Joseph Burkhead, KE8MKR, says on the competition's website that no matter where you're at in your journey in radio and navigation sports, there will be challenges for you.

For details visit the website radioorienteeringchamps dot us - that's radioorenteeringchamps - one word - dot us (radioorienteeringchamps.us

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF

(RADIO ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE)

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VINTAGE RAILWAY TO SHOWCASE TELEGRAPHY IN NEW ZEALAND

DON/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, two telegraph offices are springing back into action to demonstrate the best of a bygone era. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF gives us those details.

JIM: Although the date may be the 26th of October 2024, it may just as well be in the era of steam train travel as on that day ham radio operators bring telegraph offices back to life on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. It will be Labour Weekend but it will also be Morse Code Day as visitors ride the steam train between Glenbrook and Waiuku and learn how messages can travel efficiently too, ham radio style. Visitors at Glenbrook will have an opportunity to have Neil ZL1NZ and Paul ZL1AJY send a telegram to Waiuku before they get on board to travel to the other station. Upon arrival at Waiuku, visitors may collect their telegram and send a reply via operators Martin ZL1MDE and Peter ZL1PX. The Franklin Amateur Radio Club is hoping to cultivate an appreciation for what was once the main form of radio communication back when steam trains ruled the rails.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(QUA, THE FRANKLIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NEWSLETTER)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for special event station GB2ZL in Scotland operating CW from the 1st to the 28th of October marking the centennial of the first amateur radio contact between Great Britain and New Zealand. The actual anniversary date is the 18th of October, 1924. QSL via LoTW only. See QRZ.com for more details.

Dale, W4AUV and Bob, K4RLC will operate from St. Kitts, IOTA Number NA-104, from the 1st to the 12th of October. Dale, operating as V4/W4AUV, will be using mainly CW on 40m. Bob, using the callsign V4/K4RLC, will be operating QRP CW on 20 metres from the island's three POTA sites. QSL via LoTW.

Expect to hear Gunter, DK2WH on the air from Namibia as V51WH until early November. Gunter is operating from a farm near Omaruru. Listen for him on 160-10m, including 60m. He will also participate in the CQ WorldWide RTTY and SSB contests as V55Y. See QRZ.com for more details.

Fred, DH5FS, is operating holiday style on various HF bands as E6FS from Niue, IOTA Number OC-040, until the 30th of September. QSL via his home call.

(425 DX BULLETIN, WIA)

**
KICKER: A HEALTHY DOSE OF EYEBALL QSOS HAS BENEFITS

DON/ANCHOR: Our final story takes a look at eyeball QSOs - those in-person visits we love so much. True, there are no QSL cards but there may be other benefits, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: It's no secret that amateur radio can be good for your health. The Radio Society of Great Britain and the UK's National Health Service teamed up at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to launch Get on the Air to Care, a program to decrease social isolation and improve mental well-being, as hams reached out to hams to check on one another.

Only a few years later, Grouper, a wellness advocacy company here in the US, has partnered with the ARRL with a somewhat similar intent: While the ARRL has always encouraged lots of QSOs, Grouper encourages - indeed, Grouper actually rewards - lots of eyeball QSOs. Think of this program as a way to "Care While You're Off the Air."

Originally founded as Element3 Health, the Boston company's recent name-change to Grouper reflects its accelerated desire to help people achieve so-called "social fitness" through in-person interaction. Grouper says it is tackling the health crisis of social isolation and loneliness - formally declared to be an epidemic last year the US Surgeon General. The ARRL-Grouper partnership, in this case, focuses on older radio amateurs who are enrolled in Medicare, under either the Medicare Advantage or one of the Medicare Supplement plans. Eligible hams 65 and older who can prove they are active in in-person amateur radio activities  may have some of their dues and other activity costs covered under the program.

The ARRL said in a press release that it hopes the new program will [quote] "enhance the health of ARRL members by providing acess to benefits that support staying active and engaged." [endquote] It also shows that not all lasting connections made in amateur radio are necessarily only ones that have been soldered.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(ARRL, GROUPER, RSGB)

Portable Multi-SDR Rig Keeps Your Radios Cool

With as cheap and versatile as RTL-SDR devices are, it’s a good idea to have a couple of them on hand for some rainy day hacking. In fact, depending on what signals you’re trying to sniff out of the air, you may need multiple interfaces anyway. Once you’ve amassed this arsenal of software defined radios, you may find yourself needing a way to transport and deploy them. Luckily, [Jay Doscher] has you covered.

His latest creation, the SDR SOLO, is a modular system for mounting RTL-SDRs. Each dongle is encased in its own 3D printed frame, which not only protects it, but makes it easy to attach to the base unit. To keep the notoriously toasty radios cool, each frame has been designed to maximize airflow. You can even mount a pair of 80 mm fans to the bottom of the stack to really get the air moving. The current design is based around the RTL-SDR Blog V4, but could easily be adapted to your dongle of choice.

In addition to the row of SDR dongles, the rig also includes a powered USB hub. Each radio connects to the hub via a short USB cable, which means that you’ll only need a single USB cable running back to your computer. There’s also various mounts and adapters for attaching antennas to the system. Stick it all on the end of a tripod, and you’ve got a mobile radio monitoring system that’ll be the envy of the hackerspace.

As we’ve come to expect, [Jay] put a lot of thought and effort into the CAD side of this project. Largely made of 3D printed components, his projects often feature a rugged and professional look that really stands out.

Foxboro family makes worldwide connections with ham radio

A local woman found a unique skill to be helpful to the community and beyond.

Joanne McLaughlin of Foxboro, a retired teacher, has been a licensed amateur radio operator since October 2000 when the Federal Communication Commission issued her call sign, KB1FVN.

McLaughlin said she started the hobby because she saw first hand some family members who are licensed amateur radio operators. Amateur radio operators can talk across town or across the world without a phone or internet.

“It also allowed me to learn something new and share a hobby with my husband and son,” she said.

McLaughlin who is currently a member of the Norwood Amateur Radio Club and the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio, is also a past board member of Women Radio Operators of New England.

She holds an amateur radio technician class license and explained that some of the benefits of being an amateur radio operator are having an opportunity to meet, work, and learn new skills.

McLaughlin said people involved the hobby experiment with radio, build equipment and antennas, learn good operating skills, operate outdoors, and give back to the local community by helping support local events and being ready to help during a time of need.

“My husband (Phil McLaughlin) who also has his amateur radio license and I are active with the National Weather Service Skywarn program,” she said.

“Using our radios, we report local weather conditions directly to the NWS Norton weather office. We participate with other amateur radio operators all around the area relaying information to the weather service during storms.”

They also have helped with communication with road races, cycling, and IronMan races.

Amateur radio operators help with public service events such as the Norwood Festival of Lights, the Boston Marathon, the Head of the Charles Regatta, and the Walk for Hunger to name a few events which use amateur radio operators to assist with their annual operations.

She’s also assisted with Norwood’s Fourth of July parade.

“For 2023, the parade committee needed a driver for the Grand Marshal and I was asked to drive,” she said. “They asked me to return for the 2024 parade. This year I drove a bright blue convertible Corvette.”

“We are also shelter-trained and have done communication during long-term electrical blackouts from the shelter,” McLaughlin said.

She said there are even contests to see how many people you contact and the operator who makes the most contacts wins.

There is field day a 24-hour event in June where operators set up their equipment in a field, tent or camper and see how many contacts they can make testing their remote operating skills.

She said there are many other events throughout the year.

“I have a home station, mobile radios, and several handheld transceivers that operate in the very high frequency/ultra high frequency (VHF/UHF) bands which the FCC has allocated for amateur radio use,” McLaughlin said.

She finds the joy that comes from meeting new people, making friends, and giving back to the community by sharing her time and talents.

“It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline in times of need,” McLaughlin said.

 

THURSDAY EDITION: I finished hooking up the plow on the truck yesterday, just in case this winter....The all new Nearfest at a new location is coming uip quick, I am sure it will be a successful event rain or shine.....

ARRL Systems Service Disruption

Two major systems that have not been returned to service include DXCC and our accounting system. Most other systems have returned to full service, and we are working to clean up the stragglers.

DXCC® System

Our DXCC software was written some 20 years ago.  Although an attempt was made 8 years ago to reprogram it to function in a newer environment, that effort was unsuccessful, so the old system remains running today.  The complication with bringing it back to service is that it runs on an older version of Windows that is not supported, and more importantly, we cannot purchase adequate protection to return it to service on an internet-based network.

We have created an air-gapped network to run the system on and have it operating in a test, using a different method for connecting it to Logbook of The World® and online DXCC -- the web service that runs the online DXCC application.  This configuration is being tested and we expect it can go into production soon.  We will work to process the backlog as quickly as possible.

New DXCC?

There were statements made by an ARRL Director about work on a new DXCC system.  That is not factual. While we have ideas for merging DXCC and LoTW® into a single ARRL Radiosport platform, this concept has not been fully spec’d out or put into development.

ARRL Financials

The system we use for accounting was hit hard by the cyber-attack.  Currently, the system is fully operational and the ARRL Foundation books are in place.  ARRL’s corporate books are current as of 6/30/23, and we are working to load the balance of the data through 12/31/23. Once we are certain that the books tie to the audited 2023 financials, we will move to load the 2024 transactions, which are in digital and paper formats. That will take some time, but we will have all the data current in time for the 2025 Annual Meeting and the annual audit.

Backups

Another statement made was about ARRL’s backups of our IT environment.  There was an effort last year to move all of our backups into the cloud.  That was completed mid-2023.  There was a routine discipline of backups that went through mid-May 2024 when the cyber attack occurred.  Unfortunately, the entire cloud infrastructure was penetrated, and all of the environments were deleted.  Not encrypted.  This caused us to revert to other backups that had been made and stored in other places.  As a result, we were largely able to continue all of our major services especially publishing our 4 magazines and keeping book projects, like ARRL Handbook 101, on schedule.

Today, ARRL is using a proprietary system to backup systems and data locally and to the cloud.  We are also continuing to use air gapped, off-site backups in specific areas and are expanding that for disaster recovery purposes.  The new IT environment is currently being rolled out, so the assertion that there is something wrong or staff are incompetent is not factual.

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding.

Another incredible story

During the evening of Sept. 21, Greg, who is an amateur radio operator WX7Z, heard an emergency call on the VHF radio frequency that is called the 52. Ed - K7ELC was calling out to get medical help for a 51-year-old male that rolled his four wheeler. Mac -W7ENZ found this person near his property where there is no cell coverage, but had his ham radio with him. He gave the radio to Ed - K7ELC and asked him to radio somebody to get help coming while he gave aid to the injured. Greg - WX7Z called Clearwater’s 911 and informed them of the situation. The injured person was in serious condition with head injuries, broken collarbone, broken ribs, and had difficulty breathing.

Law enforcement and ambulance was dispatched to the location which was about 35 minutes away from town. Life Flight was also requested. During this whole time Greg would update dispatch with what was happening on scene.

The injured was transported to the hospital via Life Flight and is recovering there.

As amateur radio operators we train to be available to help when help is needed. We have a program called the Wilderness Protocol which encourages the use of the 52 frequency for emergencies. The more that ham radio operators listen to the radio the more chance there is that someone will be listening to take your emergency call. This is something that has been used many times throughout the country and here in Idaho. This is just another incredible story to share.

Lithium-Ion Battery Hotswapping, Polarity, Holders

Everyone loves, and should respect, lithium-ion batteries. They pack a ton of power and can make our projects work better. I’ve gathered a number of tips and tricks about using them over the years, based on my own hacking and also lessons I’ve learned from others.

This installment includes a grab-bag of LiIon tricks that will help you supercharge your battery use, avoid some mistakes, and make your circuits even safer. Plus, I have a wonderful project that I just have to share.

Hot-swapping Cells

When your device runs out of juice, you might not always want to chain yourself to a wall charger. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could just hot-swap cells? Indeed it is, I’ve been doing it for years, it’s dead simple to support, but you can also do it wrong. Let me show you how to do it right!

Recently, a new handheld has hit the hacker markets – the Hackberry Pi. With a Blackberry keyboard and a colour screen, it’s a pretty standard entry into the trend of handheld Pi Zero-backed computers with Blackberry keyboards. It’s not open-source and the author does not plan to open-source its hardware, so I want to make it absolutely clear I don’t consider it hacker-friendly or worth promoting. It did publish schematics, though, and these helped me find a dangerous mistake that the first revision made when trying to implement LiIon battery hot-swap.

This is not how you connect batteries in parallel,

It uses BL-5C cells, which are widely available as aftermarket batteries for Nokia phones. It’s a smart choice, though it’s worth remembering that vendors constantly inflate the capacity on the label, and my gut feel is that the more inflated the number is, the more shady the cell you’re getting. Remember, there’s a physical limit to the capacity you can shove into a certain cell volume, with 18650s limited to about 3500 mAh, as the market offerings show. (And if you try to put more capacity into a cell of certain volume, you get the Galaxy Note 7. Ahem.)

The batteries in the Hackberry Pi should be hot-swappable – no supercaps, they’re just in parallel with nothing in between the cells. Nothing in between? Question – what happens when you connect two batteries, one charged and one discharged, in parallel? Remember, LiIon batteries can give out a ton of current, and phone batteries doubly so due to the GSM modem peak current requirements. Decent voltage difference, very low resistance – you get a lot of current flowing, discharging the full cell needlessly or causing a brownout at best, and charring PCB tracks at worst.

but just two more components make it a fair bit better.

The easy solution is to use PTC resettable fuses in series with the positive or negative terminal, either between each cell, or just one between two cells. If current surges sharply, the fuse will heat up and increase its resistance, limiting the current.

But remember, a fuse’s current rating is deceiving, and a 2 A fuse won’t actually trip at exactly 2.1 A. This is beneficial for you, though – while doing hotswap, one cell will have to produce twice the current than normally, even if for a short moment. Also, remember to size the cell protection fuse not just for device consumption, but also the charging current it will receive!

It’s certain that the new Hackberry Pi revision will fix this, and if you have the first revision, just swap batteries carefully and you will be 100% fine. Hotswap doesn’t have to be complicated – now you all know how to do a very simple form of it. Oh, and, having adding the fuse, you can easily get a good few extra features with only a few components, like, say, polarity protection!

The Polarity Hacks

With 18650 holders, it’s easy to insert a cell the wrong way by accident – I’ve burned out a good few boards like that, spending precious hours and dollars replacing burned out components. A 18650 cell holds a ton of energy and can burn out a lot of silicon very easily. Or if you’re using pouch cells using JST-PH connectors, you have to watch out for two polarity conventions. In short, polarity reversal is a real risk. How do you protect from it?

The reverse polarity crowbar circuit is a dead simple way to add polarity protection – all you need is a diode across the battery, placed after the fuse, flipped in a way that it will conduct when the polarity is wrong, tripping the fuse before any circuitry is damaged. The diode’s rating has to be higher than the fuse’s trip point – otherwise, the diode will burn out before the fuse trips, negating the circuit. I’ve tested this, it works, it’s now being manufactured in hundreds.

You might also want the user, whether you or someone else (especially someone else!) to quickly notice that the polarity is flipped. The solution is simple – add a LED and a resistor flipped in a way it lights up when the cell is reversed, before the fuse. Use a red or orange LED to make it crystal clear that something is wrong; don’t use green or blue, or any colours that often mean “the device is working normally”; add silkscreen markings to indicate that this is a “wrong polarity” LED.

Back to cells with JST-PH connectors. Are you developing a project that will get into hackers’ hands, and you don’t want to have them rewire their entire LiIon cell arsenal just for your device? Thankfully, 0 R resistors save the day; it’s dead simple to add two pairs of 0603 0R’s next to a JST-PH 2-pin connector. Make one polarity the default, and leave the option of switching the polarity in there. Again, this goes before the fuse, and before the reverse polarity LED, too. Of course, your users will have to make sure the red wire goes to positive, but at least you’re helping them get there.

This quickly, we have dealt with a number of polarity problems, using barely any components, all of them cheap, no fancy ICs. Your boards deserve to be fail-proof, serving you no matter the mistakes you make.

A New 18650 Holder Enters The Scene

Leaf contact holders are great. Unlike spring holders, they’re low-inductance, high-current, resillient to shocks, reliable, and cheap to find. Unfortunately, the leaf often catches on the cell’s heatshrink ends when you unplug the battery, slowly tearing it off piece by piece, and at some point even causing the positive terminal protective ring to detach – which risks a massive short-circuit as you unplug the battery or just drop the holder hard enough. Not great!

I’ve developed a pretty unique holder for 18650s, that I currently use for a pretty substantial portable device project of mine. It’s got all the advantages of spring holders, but it wraps around the battery fully, protecting it from shocks and the elements, and closes with a twist-on locking cap. Plus, it’s belt-mountable, thanks to a 3D-printed holder. It lends itself wonderfully to hotswap, too! Most of all, it’s fully 3D printable. All you need is some threaded inserts and some leaf contacts from Keystone that I found on Mouser – a baggie with 25 of them is quite cheap, and worth the money. (Remember to scroll through categories for things like battery contacts, you will find cool stuff!) There are definitely drawbacks to this type of holder, but it’s seriously great.

Just a few threaded inserts and screws, and off you go!

It’s parametric, designed in FreeCAD, so you can change a fair few parameters without breaking a sweat. The holder is designed for quick swap – just twist the cap and the battery falls out. Swapping 18650 cells is a cakewalk. High current consumption: tested; portability: tested; not damaging the cell wrappers: tested. I’ve been actively using these holders for about nine months now – they fulfilled their purpose and far more.

There’s something that makes it feel like military equipment, but I can assure you that it’s not designed by the lowest bidder. Put these on a belt, screw these into a project, or slap two of them together back to back – maybe even lengthen it and use three cells in series! Thanks to someone’s advice from Twitter, there are also vent holes at the positive terminal’s place.  (Of course, if your cell starts venting, you have a big problem on your hands no matter what you’re using.) Still, it’s got these holes, in addition to ten other features. And it’s printable vertically with no supports.

Are there possible failure modes? Absolutely. The main one is the cylinder breaking across the layer lines under pressure, especially if you drop it. I’ve tried printing the holder laying down, so that layer lines are aligned differently, but cleaning the tube from internal supports is damn brutal and the tolerances for the 18650 inside are pretty tight. I’m going to pick up a roll of PLA-Plus, since it supposedly is more strong, and print a new set of holders. If you print it, let us know!

Another failure mode is the spring’s compressing over time. I might be overcompressing the metal, so I just ought to check the datasheets and adjust the width. Of course, strong compression is a plus, but it’s of no use if the holder starts being super bump-sensitive after a few months of use. Last but not least, the positive wire is a failure point, though the channel i’ve recently introduced mostly fixes that.

More To Come

There are a few additions in the queue for the v3 holder. One is unifying the threaded inserts so that you don’t have to buy too many different ones, and improving mounting for the belt holster to limit the molten plastic backflow. Another is adding strips on the side that’d be a base for a long metal plate, which would acts as extra backing for the 18650 holder. The only problem is finding a suitable metal plate – flat, 70 mm long, about 4 mm wide, with screw holes alongside, or, at least, on both ends. Anyone have any ideas, especially if it’s something commonly found that can be repurposed?

I’m currently working on a custom PCB for this holder – involving protection, fuse holding, reverse polarity protection and warning LED, and maybe even an opamp circuit for roughly measuring the battery voltage. In short, including all of the tips shared here.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Coffee and donuts today at the club, stop by if you are in the Gloucester, MA area.....I got on 10 and 15 ssb yesterday and worked a dozen countries with 100 watts, no need for the amplifier. It is really nice to have those bands open.....

Helena - Storm Updates

Amateur radio is responding to two different tropical events as of Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 1:00 PM Eastern.

Hurricane John

The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane John made landfall on Mexico's southern Pacific coast late Monday evening about 80 miles east of the resort of Acapulco as a Category 3 storm. Winds were reported up to 120 miles per hour (mph) before the storm began weakening back to tropical storm status early Tuesday. Life-threatening flash flooding is expected across portions of southern Mexico during the next few days.

Tropical Storm Helena

Meanwhile, hurricane and storm surge watches cover much of the Gulf Coast of Florida Tuesday morning as a system churning in the Caribbean Sea was just designated as Tropical Storm Helene and is projected to strengthen into a major storm. Residents should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and also follow the advice given by local officials.

Florida declared a state of emergency for 41 counties along and near the state's Gulf Coast because of threats from the storm. If the storm makes landfall as a hurricane, it would be the fourth landfalling hurricane in the mainland U.S. this year, joining Beryl, Debby, and Francine.

The Hurricane Watch Net is making tentative plans to activate Thursday for what is expected to be Hurricane Helene, currently forecasted to be a Category 3 hurricane at landfall. With its fast forward speed, it is expected to remain a hurricane well into southern Georgia before weakening to a tropical storm.

HWN Activation Plans:

Thursday

  • 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC) until we lose propagation at night.

  • 40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Friday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily net.

Friday

  • 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1000 UTC).

Handie-Talkie or Walkie-Talkie?  Good story....

TUESDAY EDITION: The above is true with the exception of the uphill in the snow....  Knowing the code is fun and I still put some time in with this mode but lets' face it, we are all appliance ops today. New hams are on FT8 or SSB. The real problem today is not morse code, it's getting some people into hobby of any age....The ARRL division rep talked at our last meeting and said the league is developing and testing a curriculum which adds ham radio to the STEM program at several schools in two NE states (he would not say what states but I think they are CT and NH). The schools are private or charter schools because public education has a set state curriculum, in other words they teach for the test....a test all must pass to graduate. They are more interested in the test and adding fluff curses like music, band, chorus, art, and foreign language...did I say that? They eliminated shop classes and home economics as outdated, stuff you learn on your own with your parents. lol

Apple May Break Into the Hearing Aid Industry

When the entry of a tech giant such as Apple into a market represents its liberation from exploitation, that market must be really broken, yet the reported FDA approval of the hearing aid feature in the latest AirPod earbuds seems to represent just that. The digital hearing aid business is notorious for its sharp sales practices and eye-watering prices, so for all Apple’s own notoriety the news might actually represent a leap forward for consumers in that sector. We have to ask though, if Apple of all people are now the Good Guys, where has the world of electronics gone so badly wrong?

Your grandparents decades ago would have had a simple analogue hearing aid if they had one, usually a small transistor circuit and perhaps with some kind of analogue filtering.  Digital aids with DSP algorithms to pick out speech arrived some time in the 1990s, and from there evolved a market in which their high prices increasingly didn’t match the cost of the technology or software involved. At least in the UK, they were sold aggressively to older people as less cumbersome or better than the National Health Service aids, and if you had an older person in the family it was routine to see pages and pages of targeted junk mail offering dubious financial schemes to pay for them.

The question then, given that a modern hearing aid has a relatively cheap microcontroller and DSP at its heart, why has the open source community not risen to the challenge? The answer is that they have, though the Tympan seems an over-expensive trinket for what it is and the LoCHAid and Open Speech Platform seem to have sunk without trace. Can we do better?

ARRL Section Managers Gather for Training at Headquarters

The ARRL Field Organization is divided geographically into 71 sections. A key volunteer that members in each section elect is the Section Manager. These ARRL member-volunteers take a critical role in being the front line of the organization to members.

On Saturday, September 15, 2024, 13 ARRL Section Managers gathered at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, for training. ARRL staff members gave them a detailed overview of what the association does on a daily basis, and how the resources from HQ can serve members out in the sections.

ARRL Field Service Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, serves as the point of contact for Section Managers. “These folks have taken on a tremendous responsibility to serve ARRL members and ham radio in general. They’re the ones who facilitate the work of ARRL in the field, and we want to make sure they have every tool available to them,” said Walters.

After a day of hard work in the conference room, the group of volunteers activated W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station.

Section Managers in attendance include: Scott Bauer, W2LC, of Western New York; Matthew Crook, W1MRC, of South Carolina; Carmen Greene, KP4QVQ, of Puerto Rico; Steven Keller, KC3DSO, of Delaware; Bruce Kripton, AG6X, of San Diego; Alan Maenchen, AD6E, of Pacific; Jon McCombie, N1ILZ of Eastern Massachusetts; Antonis Papatsaras, AA6PP, of San Francisco; Houston Polson, N5YS, of Louisiana; Scott Rosenfeld, N7JI, of Oregon; Douglas Sharafonowich, WA1SFH, of Connecticut; and Chris Van Winkle, AB3WG, of Maryland-DC. Also in attendance was ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Scott Yonally, N8SY. 

Kettering University Professor Helping Transform Amateur Radio Education

In December, Dr. Ronald Kumon, Kettering University Associate Professor of Natural Sciences, was awarded the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) Terrell Teaching Innovation Grant, a $6,000 investment to transform his Physics 224 course into a cutting-edge learning experience. Dr. Kumon’s goal is to integrate wireless technology and amateur radio in ways that excite students and prepare them for future careers in STEM fields. Through the CETL grant, he’s redefining how hands-on learning meets the future of communication technology.

To prepare for the redesigned course, Dr. Kumon attended national conferences, connected with other universities, and collaborated with Kettering alumni to shape a program that sets students up for success. As part of his outreach, Dr. Kumon participated in key amateur radio events and research initiatives, including a solar eclipse radio experiment that gathered critical scientific data.

“My work on the ‘Electricity and Magnetism’ course is focused on placing the traditional content of the course into the context of a topic of contemporary interest, namely wireless technology,” Dr. Kumon said. “I am planning to use amateur radio licensing as an entry point into wireless technology because it will enable students to gain practical skills and a credential that can potentially last a lifetime.”

Students who take the new course will have the chance to earn an amateur radio license — adding a professional credential to their portfolio. With the course set to launch in Fall 2024, Dr. Kumon is already preparing future coursework, labs, and materials, ensuring students don’t just learn — they lead.

MONDAY EDITION: 10-15 meters were open last weekend, lots of dx to be had if that is your thing....I hated to do it but we had the stove burning this weekend to take the chill out...

College Gives You Practical Electronics

While classroom learning isn’t for everyone, one awesome benefit of the Internet is that you have a variety of college classes available to you, even if they aren’t for credit. You can virtually audit classes from institutions around the world on just about any topic you can think of. Of course, the topic we think of is practical electronics and that happens to be the title of a class from [Dr. Bill Newhall] of the University of Colorado. You can watch the first part in the video below. So far, there are two lectures available but more are coming as the class is ongoing right now.

[Dr. Newhall] is one of us. He’s a ham radio operator and a pilot, as well as an electrical engineer. This class is aimed at others who need to understand electronics in another context. It reminded us of the genesis of one of our favorite books — also from a professor — The Art of Electronics.

The course material promises to cover topics ranging from solar and battery power sources, power conversions, IoT and RF communications, sensors, and DC motor control. Of course, there will also be sections on microcontrollers and associated hardware.

Just like a real class, the first lecture has a lot of housekeeping information, but you might want to skim it anyway. But if you want to get to the electronics, the second video won’t disappoint. While it covers a lot of ground that is probably familiar to most Hackaday readers, it is a good review and there’s more coming in the future lectures.

With all the resources online, you can easily hack your own degree plan together. Having access to instructors like [Dr. Newhall] is exactly the point we were making about how the Internet allows you to leverage the best educational opportunities no matter where you are.

WEEKEND EDITION: BOSTON (AP) — A study that explores the feasibility of using pigeons to guide missiles and one that looks at the swimming abilities of dead fish were among the winners Thursday of this year’s Ig Nobels, the prize for comical scientific achievement.

Held less than a month before the actual Nobel Prizes are announced, the 34th annual Ig Nobel prize ceremony at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was organized by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine’s website to make people laugh and think. Winners received a transparent box containing historic items related to Murphy’s Law — the theme of the night — and a nearly worthless Zimbabwean $10 trillion bill. Actual Nobel laureates handed the winners their prizes.  STORY

Ferrites Versus Ethernet in the Ham Shack

For as useful as computers are in the modern ham shack, they also tend to be a strong source of unwanted radio frequency interference. Common wisdom says applying a few ferrite beads to things like Ethernet cables will help, but does that really work?

It surely appears to, for the most part at least, according to experiments done by [Ham Radio DX]. With a particular interest in lowering the noise floor for operations in the 2-meter band, his test setup consisted of a NanoVNA and a simple chunk of wire standing in for the twisted-pair conductors inside an Ethernet cable. The NanoVNA was set to sweep across the entire HF band and up into the VHF; various styles of ferrite were then added to the conductor and the frequency response observed. Simply clamping a single ferrite on the wire helped a little, with marginal improvement seen by adding one or two more ferrites. A much more dramatic improvement was seen by looping the conductor back through the ferrite for an additional turn, with diminishing returns at higher frequencies as more turns were added. The best performance seemed to come from two ferrites with two turns each, which gave 17 dB of suppression across the tested bandwidth.

The question then becomes: How do the ferrites affect Ethernet performance? [Ham Radio DX] tested that too, and it looks like good news there. Using a 30-meter-long Cat 5 cable and testing file transfer speed with iPerf, he found no measurable effect on throughput no matter what ferrites he added to the cable. In fact, some ferrites actually seemed to boost the file transfer speed slightly.

Ferrite beads for RFI suppression are nothing new, of course, but it’s nice to see a real-world test that tells you both how and where to apply them. The fact that you won’t be borking your connection is nice to know, too. Then again, maybe it’s not your Ethernet that’s causing the problem, in which case maybe you’ll need a little help from a thunderstorm to track down the issue.


Amateur Radio Newsline Report


ICOM ISSUES STATEMENT ON COUNTERFEIT RADIOS AFTER EXPLOSIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, Icom Japan issued a statement regarding its IC-V82 handheld radio, a discontinued model that some reports say may have been counterfeited in connection with deadly explosions in Lebanon. The company statement did not directly address those explosions by name but said that the radios and batteries, which were manufactured and exported between 2004 and 2014, went to markets that included the Middle East between 2004 and 2014.

Ray Novak, N9JA, senior sales manager for Icom America's amateur radio division, expressed certainty that the radios in question were counterfeit. Attending a Rhode Island trade show, he told the Associated Press: [quote] “I can guarantee you they were not our products."

Acknowledging the relative ease with which unauthorized radios can be duplicated, Icom's website also includes detailed information showing how consumers are able to determine whether or not their radio is a counterfeit.

For a link to that part of the company website, see the text version of this newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.icomjapan.com/explore/genuine_info/ ]


(ICOM AMERICA, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
INFLUENTIAL GROUP WEIGHS IN ON PROPOSED PRIVATIZATION OF 900 MHz BAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: An influential group in the US has weighed in on the proposed privatization of the 900 MHz band, just as the clock winds down on sending comment to the FCC. Kent Peterson KCØDGY explains the issue - and the concerns.

KENT: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit group in the US advocating for freedom in the use of technology, has added its voice to the chorus urging the FCC to keep the 900 MHz band accessible to amateur radio operators, industrial, scientific and medical devices and unlicensed consumer electronics. Those frequencies are being eyed by NextNav, a geolocation technology company, which made a request earlier this year to the FCC for exclusive rights to the part of the spectrum between 902 and 928 MHz.

The private company's stated intent has been to have these frequencies privatized for use by 5G cellular communications and a positioning, navigating and timing network to be used in the US as a backup for GPS navigation. The ARRL and a number of other amateur organizations have already spoken out urging the FCC to turn the proposal down. In its response to the FCC, the ARRL argued that the move would pose a risk to public service because it would edge ham radio operators out of a part of the spectrum that is well-used.

The period for comments to the FCC on this proposal closed on Friday, the 20th of September.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, ARRL, FCC)

**
UK PROVIDERS ROLL OUT SHARED RURAL NETWORKING

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the UK, amateurs using mobile phones to self-spot on the clusters while operating portable got some good news recently from cellular companies, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Hams operating portable from summits and parks in the UK may find it easier to announce their activations on the various spotting networks with the help of a Shared Rural Network being created by all of the UK's cellular providers. Absence of 4G coverage in rural areas has been a stumbling block for cellular communications in those underserved areas. An agreement was signed in 2020 between Ofcom and the four cellular service providers to fill that need. The regulator announced recently that Vodafone, O2 and EE have fulfilled their commitment to bring 4G coverage to 88 percent of the UK's landmass by this past June but that the fourth cellular provider, "3", did not meet that deadline. Ofcom said that "3" believes that it has met its commitment as of the 22nd of August. The deadline for the network's completion is the end of January 2027.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
DAB+ RECEIVERS TO DELIVER IMPROVED EMERGENCY ALERTS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, outside the US, users of DAB+ [D A B Plus] technology will be seeing some improvements in the delivery of emergency alerts. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what's going on.

GRAHAM: The delivery of improved emergency alerts and communication is expected next year for users of the newest DAB+ receivers, which are in wide use in Australia and many parts of Europe and Asia. According to a report on the Radio World website, the radios will be able to respond instantly for emergency transmissions, switching the receiver to the station transmitting the details and displaying text information on the screen. The technology also enables temporary radio channels to be established for the delivery of information. The standard is known as Automatic Safety Alert, or ASA, and ASA-equipped receivers are also capable of being turned on automatically to receive these emergency messages.

The technology was developed by WorldDAB in partnerhip with Digitalradio Deutschland, working with the chipmaker Frontier Smart Technologies. The initiative went forward with manufacturers such as JVC Kenwood and Technisat on board.

DAB+ radio is not in use in the United States but proved especially useful in Australia in 2011 during the floods that overtook Brisbane, Queensland. The deadly flooding killed dozens of people, forced massive evacuations and ultimately cost $2.38 billion, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(RADIO WORLD, WORLDDAB.ORG)

**
SILENT KEY: MICHAEL VALENTINE, W8MM, ENTREPRENEUR, HAMVENTION VOLUNTEER

PAUL/ANCHOR: A familiar face at Hamvention, a beloved member of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association - and generous benefactor to ham radio - has become a Silent Key. Michael Valentine, W8MM, died on the 17th of September.

A former engineer for Drake and Cincinnati Electronics, Michael was well-known for his inventive, entrepreneurial spirit and his generosity to the amateur community. He was well-known too for his later work with radar detectors. In Jack's announcement of Michael's passing, he acknowledged Michael's belief in giving back to the community. He was involved in a number of University of Cincinnati scholarships and was a major supporter of ARRL initiatives as a member of the ARRL's Hiram Percy Maxim Society. He served on the league's Second Century Campaign Committee in 2014, on the occasion of the ARRL's centennial, and launched the Valentine Challenge Fund, matching contributions dollar-for-dollar.

Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, DARA's past president, said in an email to association members: [quote] "Michael, you will be missed. Until we meet again in that big "Ham Shack in Heaven."

Michael was 74.

(FACEBOOK; RIA JAIRAM, N2RJ; DARA)

**

SRI LANKA'S SEANET24 EVENT MOVES TO OCTOBER 3RD

PAUL/ANCHOR: There's been a change in plans for SEANET24, the three-day regional radio event held in Sri Lanka. John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

JOHN: The date for SEANET24, a three-day event organised by the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, has been moved from September 21st to the weekend of October 3rd. Sri Lanka is poised to hold its first presidential election on the 21st of September and in case a curfew is imposed, the society thought it best to move the date for the amateur radio gathering. The society is urging all those hoping to attend SEANET to update their hotel reservations.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(YL BEAM, RADIO SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA)

**
CINCINNATI HAMFEST SEEKS NOMINEES FOR 2 'CLUB OF THE YEAR' AWARDS

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you know of a club in the Great Lakes Region or the Ohio Valley region of the US that has distinguished itself in support of amateur radio, now is the time to let everybody know. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us how.

DAVE: The next Cincinnati Hamfest is still almost a year away but organizers are wasting no time in finding a deserving group of amateurs to receive the award for Great Lakes Region Club of the Year. To be eligible, a club must be located within the Great Lakes region of Kentucky, Ohio or Michigan. Most importantly, clubs that are nominated must demonstrate a passion for amateur radio and be active in its advancement. Cincinnati Hamfest also presents an award for Club of the Year among nominees located within the Ohio Valley region of Indiana, Kentucky or Ohio. Nomination forms for both awards are available at the hamfest website, cincinnatihamfest - that's one word - dot org. (cincinnatihamfest.org)

Cincinnati Hamfest won't be happening until August 9th, 2025 but the months ahead will go quickly, so consider who you might want to nominate for these honors.
on bulletin stations around the world including the WR6AAC repeater in Lake Forest, California on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. local time.

**
HAM RADIO HELPS ONE MAN'S HOMECOMING AFTER A HALF-CENTURY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in India played a crucial role in helping a man return home after more than a half-century. John Williams VK4JJW has that dramatic story.

JOHN: An abused child who was sold by his father and stepmother 52 years ago in India has been able to return home to the property he inherited from his late father in Odisha with the help of amateur radio. According to various Indian media reports, the man, who is now in his 60s, was living in a state-run home whose administrators contacted the West Bengal Radio Club. The West Bengal amateurs are contacted often by local authorities because of the hams' wide network of contacts.

The news report said that more than five decades ago, the man's family had taken him to Delhi and sold him when he was about 8 years old. There was no other information available about what happened to him after that or how he ended up living in a state home.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the radio club, told local media that the man's younger brother was unable to recognise him after so many years but finally made positive identification after viewing the scars on the man's back that had been inflicted by years of childhood beatings.

The news report said that initially the younger brother did not want his sibling returned because he would have had to share the inheritance of the property with him. The hams intervened and secured support from the district magistrate and other authorities on the matter. The elder brother was returned home and district administrators are taking measures to provide him with his inheritance.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(MILLENNIUM POST)

**
AMATEURS RECEIVE HONORS FROM RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Five prominent amateur radio operators are among the 13 award recipients to be honored in November by the Radio Club of America, which has also announced its incoming class of 2024 fellows. That class of eight includes two hams. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us who all of these noted amateurs are.

JACK: Congratulations to physicist and radio astronomer Nathan "Chip" Cohen, W1YW, who will receive the Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences. Chip is known as a pioneer in the area of fractal antennas.

Congratulations also to Tucker Dunham, KD2JPM, who is receiving the Carole Perry Young Professional Award for his work advancing amateur radio digirepeaters for emergency use. Tucker is studying microelectronic engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

James Breakall, WA3FET, will receive the Dr. Ulrich Rohde (ROADY) Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering. An RCA Life Fellow, he is known for his work in numerical electromagnetics and antenna design.

The Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation is being given to Stanley Reubenstein, WA6RNU, for his contributions to the success of the RCA and the industry.

The late electrical engineer, radio personality and leader of the Maritime Mobile Service Net, René Albert Stiegler III, K4EDX, is being honored posthumously with the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award.

Meanwhile, Michael Kalter, W8CI, and Howard Rosen, VE2AED, have been named RCA fellows for 2024. Michael is well-known for his leadership of Dayton Hamvention. Howard, an inventor with more than 83 patents to his credit, is an innovator in RF technology, electronics and medical systems.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
HURRICANE FRANCINE KNOCKS LOUISIANA RADIO STATIONS OFF AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: Although radio operators on the amateur and commercial side all take pride in the medium's resilience, several broadcast radio stations in Louisiana were not so fortunate during the recent arrival of Hurricane Francine.

The Desk, an industry website, reported that FCC disaster-related reports showed that the Category 2 hurricane took at least five radio stations in the state off the air - both AM and FM broadcasters. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has often underscored the importance of local radio stations in delivering emergency alerts during disasters. The critical role AM radio has played for decades in communicating these messages in the US has been part of a robust debate to retain AM radios in newly manufactured vehicles.

(THEDESK.NET)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Lucy, AB3MY, operating as DU1/AB3MY on Luzon Island, IOTA number OC-042, in the Philippines until the 24th of September. Listen for her using SSB and possibly some FT8 on 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metres. QSL via her home call. Her activity is to honor her late father, Percy Tence, PY2PD.

Listen for Michal, OM2DX, using the callsign TO2DX (TEE OH TWO D X) from Reunion Island, IOTA number AF-016, from the 27th of September through to the 7th of October. He will operate CW, RTTY and FT8 on 60-10 metres. Listen for him as well in the CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest on the 28th and 29th of September. QSO to his home call.

(DX-WORLD.NET, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
POUNDING - AND SOUNDING - THE BRASS, NASHVILLE STYLE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our final story, we learn about three avid contesters who traveled recently to Nashville, Tennessee where they learned they could make beautiful music together. Skeeter Nash N5ASH introduces us to them.

SKEETER: Jim Green, KØXV; Lonnie Craven, K4KZ and Dave Needham, AA4VT, are veteran HF operators whose finely tuned skills at sending code demonstrate how well each one knows his way around a CW key, especially during a contest. Never having met one another until this past summer, there was no way these hams could have known that they also share an enviable proficiency in another mode - a mode that also relies on keys, but in this case, musical keys. They all play the French horn and like the CW key, this brass instrument is also capable of creating a powerful message. It did just that when the men joined the Celebration Orchestra for a performance in late June in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is part of the Global Missions Project that uses the power of Christian evangelical music to transmit a message of faith. After three hours of rehearsal on the morning of June 21st, the curtain went up on the orchestra that same afternoon.

Jim told Newsline in an email that Dave and Lonnie have traveled internationally on missions with the music ministry but this was his first time with the Celebration Orchestra. The last thing he expected was an eyeball QSO. Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Imagine my absolute surprise to learn that there were two horn players who were also radio amateurs." [endquote]

Now they can listen for one another, whether they are pounding - or sounding - the brass, As Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Whether we perform together again remains to be seen. If we register for a trip, then we will make music together again." [endquote]

FRIDAY EDITION:  The leaves are turning yellow and red on a lot of trees around here, seems early but probably brought about by the 28 day drought....Icom IC-V82 handheld transceivers designed for amateur radio use have been identified as the latest device to deliver deadly explosions targeting members of Hezbollah. The identification of Icom radios follows an initial attack on members of Hezbollah in which pager devices were used to deliver deadly explosions.

Icom is investigating the reports of its radios being used in these attacks while Icom sales reps believe the radios identified are knock-offs. Icom is expected to release its findings on its website. The IC-V82 was discontinued in 2014.

Source: Washington Post

ARRL Announces Partnership with Grouper

“This partnership allows us to connect more people who share a passion for amateur radio...”

NEWINGTON, CT – ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce a partnership with Grouper, the national leader in activity benefit administration. The collaboration between ARRL and Grouper aims to enhance the health of ARRL members by providing access to benefits that support staying active and engaged.

READ PRESS RELEASE (PDF) 

Guided by its mission of encouraging healthy living through meaningful social connections, Grouper connects its members to benefits that cover costs associated with group activities. By joining Grouper and staying connected through amateur radio, ARRL members who are 65+ and have participating Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans can unlock the activity benefit offered by these plans and receive a check in the mail to support their membership dues.

“Grouper is thrilled to help support ARRL members by offering access to an activity benefit that encourages social connection,” said Doug Wenners, Grouper’s Chief Executive Officer. "This partnership is a natural fit because both organizations understand that social connection builds relationships, encourages involvement, and enhances our communities.”

Grouper supports ARRL members who are eligible for the activity benefit by helping to offset membership dues and the participation costs associated with their amateur radio activities. Members are then encouraged to remain active so they can receive ongoing activity benefits.

"ARRL is excited to partner with Grouper to expand opportunities for connection and learning within our community,” said ARRL Membership Manager Marc Spardello, W1NJ. “This partnership allows us to connect more people who share a passion for amateur radio through ARRL membership and ARRL Affiliated Clubs. We’ll also reach other Grouper members, inviting them to explore radio communications through ARRL and our engaged community of members.”

ARRL Members: Check Your Eligibility for Grouper!
To find out if you qualify for the activity benefit administered by Grouper and to join the social fitness movement, visit https://hellogrouper.com/arrl.

About ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio®
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio is among the largest and most influential organizations of radio amateurs (or “hams”) in the world. ARRL’s mission is to promote and protect the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio, and to develop the next generation of radio amateurs. Founded in 1914 as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL supports members with opportunities to discover radio, to develop new skills, and to serve your local community. For more information about ARRL and amateur radio, visit https://www.arrl.org.

About Grouper
Grouper partners with health plans that offer their members activity benefits. Grouper helps you connect to social activities that match your passions. As you stay socially active and participate in qualifying in-person activities with your group, Grouper works with your health plan to support the cost of your membership dues and make other benefits available to you related to your social activity. For more information about Grouper, please visit https://hellogrouper.com.

ARRL Philanthropist, Radar Detector Pioneer, Michael Valentine, W8MM, Silent Key

Michael “Mike” D. Valentine, W8MM, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024. He was 74. Mike and his wife of 51 years, Margaret “Peg” K. Valentine, have been the most generous individual supporters of ARRL The National Association of Amateur Radio. Valentine earned his amateur radio license as a teenager. “I was first licensed as WN8MSF and WA8MSF, simultaneously in the spring of my freshman year in high school, 1964. I was a combo Novice and Technician, as was customary in those days for technically proficient beginners…,” he wrote in his biography for the Quarter Century Wireless Association.

His interests in amateur radio and electronics led Valentine to enter the electrical engineering program at the University of Cincinnati, where he met Peg. He was selected by the R. L. Drake Company as an engineering coop student. He would go on to work for Drake and Cincinnati Electronics after graduation in 1973. He co-founded Cincinnati Microwave, maker of Escort radar detectors.

Mike and Peg founded Valentine Research in 1983. The company designs, manufactures, and sells electronic devices directly to users. Their flagship model, the Valentine One®, and the Valentine One Gen2, brought many innovations in that space, including being the first radar detector to indicate the direction of the radar device relative to the vehicle. Valentine and his products have been profiled many times in automotive enthusiast media.

Together, the Valentines shared their success generously with many organizations including public television, higher education, the arts, and ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio. The Valentines are the single biggest individual donors in ARRL history. They are Millennium Class members of the ARRL Maxim Society.

Mike served on the ARRL Second Century Campaign Committee, which coincided with ARRL’s Centennial in 2014. The campaign, including the Valentine Challenge Fund which matched the dollar-for-dollar contributions of other donors, established an endowment to ensure ARRL’s ongoing commitment to amateur radio.

In 2023, ARRL awarded the Valentines the inaugural Mary Hobart, K1MMH, Medal of Distinction during a donor recognition event held in Dayton, Ohio. “To say that the Valentines are great philanthropists is an understatement,” said ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, in remarks he made during the award presentation. “Mike and Peg have invested significantly in supporting the future of amateur radio. They have set the example for all our donors with their philanthropic leadership.”

In addition to his successful business pursuits and exceptional generosity to many organizations, Valentine could often be found cheering at University of Cincinnati Bearcats games, operating ham radio, and driving sports cars.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has published a Life Story with these additional details: A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 9:30 AM until time of funeral service at 11:00 AM, at the Covenant First Presbyterian Church, 717 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. A reception will immediately follow in the Parish Hall. Burial will be held privately at Spring Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mike's memory to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) or The Matthew Mangine Jr. One Shot Foundation.

THURSDAY EDITION: Check your walkie for explosives....

Japan's Icom investigating radio devices carrying its logo after Lebanon blast

TOKYO, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Japanese radio equipment maker Icom Inc on Thursday that it was investigating the facts regarding news reports that two-way radio devices bearing its logo have exploded in Lebanon.
Hand-held radios used by armed group Hezbollah detonated on Wednesday across Lebanon's south, after similar explosions of the group's pagers the day before. Images of the exploded walkie-talkies showed labels with "ICOM" and "made in Japan."

How Sony Mastered the Transistor

When you think of Sony, you probably think of a technology company that’s been around forever. However, as [Asianometry] points out, it really formed in the tough years after World War II. The two people behind the company’s formation were an interesting pair. One of them was a visionary engineer and one was a consummate businessman.

While it is hard to imagine today, securing a license to produce transistors was difficult in the early days. What’s worse is, even with the license, it was not feasible to use the crude devices in a radio.

The devices were poor by today’s standards, and while transistors would work at audio frequencies for hearing aids, getting them to work at AM radio frequencies was a challenge. The Sony founders had to decide whether to use alloy transistors or grown crystal transistors.

Western Electric did not want to share its crystal-growing technology, so in 1954, the team created an alloy transistor. However, it failed to work well at radio frequencies, so they shifted to growing crystals, which seemed more amenable to scaling. One of the team tried using phosphorous and indium doping and created a transistor that could work at higher frequencies. But there was a problem.

Despite the transistor’s superior performance, they couldn’t make another one. Common wisdom at the time was that phosphorus doping was a dead end, but it had worked once. It just took time to find the right way to do it. By 1955, they produced usable transistors, even though the yield was at around 5%.

Texas Instruments beat them to market with a transistor radio, the Regency TR-1, in 1954, but in 1955, they produced the TR-55. Of the five transistors inside, some were alloyed transistors, and some were grown crystals. The factory had to hand-select crystal transistors to make each unit work. The radios were on sale for about 19,000 yen (the TR-1 cost about 50 bucks; recall that in 1954, that was nearly $600 in today’s money). Adjusting for inflation, in today’s money, a Japanese teenager would shell out about $850 for the TR-55.

The TR-55 wasn’t the first Sony radio to have transistors. The TR-52 was a prototype, but it had case problems and never made it into the hands of the public. The radio didn’t make it to the United States until 1957. By then, Texas Instruments, Raytheon, and GE all had radios available, too.

It is a fascinating look into the history of an iconic electronics brand and a window into another world that, honestly, wasn’t that long ago. We couldn’t help but note similarities with Apple, who also had a businessman and engineer combination. Sony would go on to innovate in a number of areas, including optical data storage.

A 1930s Ham Station

[Mikrowave1] wanted to build an authentic 1930s-style ham radio station that was portable. He’s already done a regenerative receiver, but now he’s starting on a tube transmitter that runs on batteries. He’s settled on a popular design for the time, a Jones push-pull transmitter. Despite the tubes, it will only put out a few watts, which is probably good for the batteries which, at the time, wouldn’t have been like modern batteries. You can see the kickoff video below.

According to the video, these kinds of radios were popular with expeditions to exotic parts of the world. He takes a nostalgic look back at some of the radios and antennas used in some of those expeditions.

The Jones oscillator originates with [Frank Jones, W6AJF] and was quite popular in the day, as he was well-known in ham radio circles then. Normally, these took a dual triode and a crystal along with some passive components. In this case, though, the transmitter will use two type 30 tubes. If you missed the series on the receiver, that’ll give you something to watch while you wait for the next installment on the transmitter.

We are excited to see — and maybe hear — this station on the air. Of course, you can build simple gear today, too. You can only wonder what [Frank Jones] would think of modern software-defined radios.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The Southern Michigan Orienteering Club (SMOC) and Amateur Radio Clubs across southeastern Michigan invite you to attend the 2024 USA Radio Orienteering Championships held in the Chelsea, Michigan area this October.

Watch NASA’s Solar Sail Reflect Brightly in the Night Sky

NASA’s ACS3 (Advanced Composite Solar Sail System) is currently fully deployed in low Earth orbit, and stargazers can spot it if they know what to look for. It’s actually one of the brightest things in the night sky. When the conditions are right, anyway.

ACS3’s sail is as thin as it is big.

What conditions are those? Orientation, mostly. ACS3 is currently tumbling across the sky while NASA takes measurements about how it acts and moves. Once that’s done, the spacecraft will be stabilized. For now, it means that visibility depends on the ACS’s orientation relative to someone on the ground. At it’s brightest, it appears as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

ACS3 is part of NASA’s analysis and testing of solar sail technology for use in future missions. Solar sails represent a way of using reflected photons (from sunlight, but also possibly from a giant laser) for propulsion.

This perhaps doesn’t have much in the way of raw energy compared to traditional thrusters, but offers low cost and high efficiency (not to mention considerably lower complexity and weight) compared to propellant-based solutions. That makes it very worth investigating. Solar sail technology aims to send a probe to Alpha Centauri within the next twenty years.

Want to try to spot ACS3 with your own eyes? There’s a NASA app that can alert you to sighting opportunities in your local time and region, and even guide you toward the right region of the sky to look. Check it out!

Blog – Hackaday Read More

APRS Foundation Accepting Membership

Amateur radio operators may now support the APRS Foundation through a $20 per year membership option. Becoming a member helps secure the future of APRS and assists with the foundation's operating costs.

The APRS Foundation was formed in 2022 after the passing the Bob Bruninga (WB4APR), the original steward of APRS. The foundation's goal is to preserve and advance APRS moving forward.

Editor's note: For an in-depth review of the details involving the formation of the APRS Foundation and its future plans, see issue 0167 of Zero Retries. N8GNJ outlines the foundation's immediate plans to create documentation as well as the transfer of various assets such as aprs.org to the foundation.

TUESDAY EDITION: A powerful solar flare spat out from the sun sparked radio blackouts across South America and the mid-Atlantic Ocean on Saturday. STORY....

NextNav’s Callous Land-Grab to Privatize 900 MHz

The 900 MHz band, a frequency range serving as a commons for all, is now at risk due to NextNav’s brazen attempt to privatize this shared resource. 

Left by the FCC for use by amateur radio operators, unlicensed consumer devices, and industrial, scientific, and medical equipment, this spectrum has become a hotbed for new technologies and community-driven projects. Millions of consumer devices also rely on the range, including baby monitors, cordless phones, IoT devices, garage door openers. But NextNav would rather claim these frequencies, fence them off, and lease them out to mobile service providers. This is just another land-grab by a corporate rent-seeker dressed up as innovation. 

EFF and hundreds of others have called on the FCC to decisively reject this proposal and protect the open spectrum as a commons that serves all.

Read more – Electronic Frontier Foundation: https://bit.ly/4ekGxUj

Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (whew!)

Entered Mortal coil: 8 February 1745    Assumed Room Temperature: 5 March 1827

Everytime you fumble around in the dark during a power outage, cursing because the flashlight doesn't work, or are stranded because the darn car won't crank, or lose all the memories and/or operating parameters in your HF radio's volatile memory, or you are simply caught flat-footed on Christmas morning as your child cries because his new Super Destructor Evil Doom Machine is only a piece of inanimate plastic, its all because we have come to rely on a relatively ubiquitous piece of technology referred to technically as the voltaic cell. But, almost 200 years ago, this invention literally and figuratively shocked the scientific world (I apologize, this was too hard to resist!).

Signore Volta was born of nobility. At the age of only 14, young Alessandro set his life's course when he decided his career would be in the field of physics, with an emphasis on electricity. By 1778, the young scientist had isolated methane in the laboratory. He should have visited a nearby cow pasture, in my opinion, for fresh samples of the gas! Volta also invented a static charge accumulator which is the basis of modern capacitors. Such was Alessandro's success in his endeavors that he was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society in 1791. Greater things and discoveries, however, were to come.

Back to Luigi Galvani: Volta's friend had been experimenting with the phenomena of what he termed "animal electricity." Galvani had inserted electrodes of differing metals into a frog's legs, which resulted in muscular contractions (in essence, the "frog juice" was an electrolyte). Luigi thought he was providing a path for the natural animal electricity.

Volta read and discussed his friend's findings, disagreed with Luigi good-naturedly, and investigated further. Volta removed the frog, used alternating discs of copper and zinc, and inserted absorbent cardboard pads between the discs which were impregnated with a suitable solution of salts or acid. In 1800, he stacked many of these discs together, a "battery" of them, so to speak, and was greeted with success. The potential generated by only 20 of these discs was enough to inflict pain. Napolean Bonaparte requested a "command performance" of Alessandro in 1801 for a personal demonstration of the device. So impressed was the potentate with the "pile of discs" that Volta was eventually made a Count. This invention is also referred to as the voltaic pile.

For Volta's work, the unit of electromotive force, the VOLT, designated by either the symbols "E" or "V" was named after him.

 

Space shuttle- check out the damn wiring- are you shitting me! And put a rubber band in that damn hair girl...

MONDAY EDITION: What great weather here on the island, the boat is out for the season. I got the plow mount on the truck ready to go for the winter, I am ahead of schedule...might have time for a new antenna or two, My hex beam is stored in the rear shed and I need to make new wire elements for it, I threw the old ones out planning on replacing them. I need to dig out the rotor and box and find some new connectors for the Yaesu G450, that won't be cheap....

Radio Club of America Announces 21 Award Recipients and Fellows

The Radio Club of America has announced both its annual award recipients and its incoming class of 2024 fellows. Through these awards, RCA has recognized individuals for their contributions to the wireless communications industry since 1935. This year, 13 awards will be presented while eight RCA members will be elevated to fellow status.

The recipients and fellows will be honored at the 2024 RCA Awards Banquet at Westin Times Square in New York City on Nov. 23.

Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of wireless communications professionals. According to the club, its award winners are those who have dedicated significant time and talent toward the advancement of the wireless industry. Nominations are accepted from anyone in the field.

Past award recipients include Edwin Armstrong, Martin Cooper, Jay Kitchen and Fred Link, among others.

Find RCA’s list of 2024 award recipients and fellows below, as well as RCA’s own definition of each award.

2024 Award Recipients

Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Armstrong Medal

This award is given to a person who has demonstrated excellence and made lasting contributions to the arts and sciences of radio.

Dr. Chattopadhyay is a senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and an award-winning expert in microwave, millimeter-wave and terahertz technologies with over 375 publications and numerous prestigious accolades, including the NASA-JPL People Leadership Award in 2023.

René Albert Stiegler III (K4EDX) (posthumously), Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award

This award is given in recognition of unique contributions to the field of amateur radio.

Stiegler was an electrical engineer and radio personality, known for founding mobile communication companies, serving as chief engineer of WABB(FM) and leading the Maritime Mobile Service Net.

Tucker Dunham (KD2JPM), Carole Perry Young Professional Award

This award was established to honor a young professional who was part of the RCA Youth Activities Program and has gone on to a career in wireless science.

Dunham won RCA’s Young Achiever Award in 2018 and is currently studying microelectronic engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology with advancements in amateur radio digirepeaters for emergency applications to his credit.

Dr. Nathan “Chip” Cohen (W1YW), Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences

This award recognizes significant contributions to basic research involving RF and related subjects to inspire future generations of scientific professionals.

Dr. Cohen is a physicist, radio astronomer and CEO of Fractal Antenna Systems, known for pioneering fractal antennas and metamaterials with over 100 technical papers, 93 patents and numerous accolades to his credit, including the RCA DeForest and Grebe Awards.

Dr. James Breakall (WA3FET), Dr. Ulrich Rohde Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering

This award recognizes significant contributions to innovation in applied radio science and engineering in the wireless industry to inspire future generations of wireless professionals.

Dr. Breakall is a professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Penn State, renowned for his work in numerical electromagnetics and antenna design, including contributions to the Numerical Electromagnetics Code, the HAARP facility and the popular Skyhawk Yagi antenna. He has more than 45 years of experience and is distinguished as an RCA Life Fellow.

Stanley Reubenstein (WA6RNU), Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation

This award recognizes long-time RCA members who have either made noteworthy contributions to the success of the club or to the radio industry.

Reubenstein is a retired manufacturer’s representative and former president of RCA with a career spanning sales, marketing and leadership roles in the communications industry. He is recognized with numerous awards, including the Barry Goldwater Award and the E.F. Johnson Award.

Ross Merlin, Jay Kitchen Leadership Award

This award recognizes an individual with a high level of success leading a wireless association, government agency or commercial enterprise.

Merlin is a retired U.S. federal government expert in emergency communications interoperability, known for creating the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide and managing programs like FEMA’s FNARS and the SHARES HF radio program.

Professor Dr. Morimi Awama, Lee de Forest Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of radio communications.

Dr. Awama, a former executive at AT&T Bell Laboratories, has a long publication record in technical journals and studies for the U.S. Department of Defense and played an important role in developing emerging communication technologies, including contributions to the Telstar Project.

Dr. Robert Wilson, Lifetime Achievement Award

Through this award, the RCA Board of Directors recognize an individual’s body of work accomplished over a lifetime toward the art and science of wireless technology.

Dr. Wilson, as a physicist and radio astronomer, contributed to radio astronomy at Caltech and Bell Laboratories. He earned the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics with his colleague Arno Penzias for their 1964 cosmic microwave radiation discovery.

Mike Molnar, Ralph Batcher Award

This award is presented to an RCA member for their significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.

Molnar has been designing gamma cameras for veterinary diagnostics since 1984, while researching and writing about radio history, earning him the AWA’s Robert Murray Award in 2021.

Charles Kirmuss, RCA President’s Award

The RCA President uses this award to select an individual who has demonstrated dedication to the work of the club.

Kirmuss has contributed advancements to digital video, audio recording and first responder-aiding GPS technology. His company, Kirmuss Audio, is recognized as uniquely capable of producing a process and machine that cleans and restores recording grooves.

Alan Spindel (AG4WK), RCA Special Services Award

This award recognizes a club member who has performed significant work to advance its goals and objectives.

Spindel is the senior electrical engineer at Global HF and has over 20 years of telecom experience developing digital HF radio modems and automating large-scale HF radio systems.

Evelyn Torres-Gomez, Wireless Innovation Award

This award recognizes an individual who is creating a new concept or product that is currently in use in the wireless industry.

Torres-Gomez is the founder and CEO of Solaris Technologies Services — an award-winning telecommunications manufacturing company known for high-capacity mobile tower solutions — with multiple patents to her credit.

Mario A. Vulcano, USN Captain George P McGinnis Memorial Award

This award recognizes service and dedication to the advancement and preservation of U.S. Naval Cryptology, as nominated by the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association.

Vulcano served 22 years in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologist and instructor, followed by a civilian career teaching cryptologic warfare, receiving numerous military and civilian awards.

2024 RCA Fellows

Elevation to fellow is made by invitation to members who are in good standing for at least five years, in recognition of their contributions to the art and science of radio communications, broadcast or to RCA.

The following RCA members are elevated to fellow status in 2024:

Michael Kalter (W8CI)

Kalter has experience as president and COO of Behm Quartz Industries and is an avid supporter of amateur radio. He led the restructuring of the Dayton Hamvention.

Becky Neugent

Neugent, a public-safety professional since 1997, has overseen the installation of public safety radio dispatch systems and served in various leadership roles within APCO International, including her current role as the 911 Director for Autauga County, Ala. She was named the 88th President of APCO International in August 2023.

Stephen Nichols

Nichols is the executive director of the Project 25 (P25) Technology Interest Group with over 30 years of experience in land mobile and public safety radio. He led business development for Thales Defense and Security’s P25 product lines and earned the RCA’s Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation.

Howard Rosen (VE2AED)

Rosen is a self-taught inventor and entrepreneur with over 83 patents, including the first video compact disk and various innovations in electronics, RF technology and medical systems.

Dr. Julio Urbina

Dr. Urbina is a full professor of electrical engineering at Penn State specializing in radar design, radio wave remote sensing and space instrumentation. He was selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2024-25.



WEEKEND EDITION:

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

SCIENTISTS TO REVISE SOLAR STORM ASSESSMENT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with solar storms, something we amateurs have had more than our share of this year. In the US, scientists are looking to update the way they assess solar weather's impact here on Earth and even in space. Travis Lisk N3ILS has those details.

TRAVIS: US scientists in the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are collaborating with the National Weather Service to update the way solar storms and other space weather is classified.
According to an article on the space.com website, the scientists recognize that new knowledge about geomagnetic storms and recent advances in technology require them to revisit ways they look at space weather and its impact on the Earth and human space travel.

The Space Weather Prediction Center's program coordinator, Bill Murtagh, explained the need for change during an interview with space.com, saying [quote] "The user base and needs have changed, the capabilities, the science and our understanding of the science  — a lot has changed. And the scales for all practical purposes have not changed, and they need to." [endquote]

Some current scale categories for geomagnetic storms reflect impact on power grids and spacecraft operations, for instance, and others focus on the radio blackouts that have a serious impact on HF radio and navigation systems.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(SPACE.COM)

**
LAUNCH DELAYED FOR AMSAT-DL'S ERMINAZ PAYLOAD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The launch of AMSAT-DL's latest payload was delayed until next year because the original first stage of the rocket unexpectedly became compromised. We hear the details from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The launch of AMSAT-DL's ERMINAZ payload has been moved to next year, following what is being called a "serious anomaly" that resulted in a loss of the first rocket stage. The incident took place on the 19th August during the test by Rocket Factory Augsburg at the SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. Rocket Factory Augsburg said it would take time to work on a new first rocket stage after repair work, fault analysis and qualification.

AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-EA and the Libre Space Foundation are working together on the mission. The payloads include two PocketQubes from AMSAT-EA. The satellites will be using the amateur callsign AM1HAD allowing hams around the world to make contacts on FM or digital modes such as FT-4, FT-8 and AX.25/APRS.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMSAT NEWS)

**
PENNSYLVANIA HAM CLUB MARKS CENTENNIAL OF HISTORIC RAILROAD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A radio club in eastern Pennsylvania plans to make some history of its own as it celebrates a very special centennial involving
an iconic name recognized by railroad buffs around the world. Mark Abramowicz NT3V(Abram-o-vich) has the story from Reading [REDDING], Pennsylvania.

MARK: The Reading Radio Club is preparing to honor the 100th anniversary of the historic Reading Railroad with two special event stations on Saturday, September 21st. For the first time ever, the group will activate club call signs W3BN and W3CCH simultaneously in separate operations 25 miles apart. The big, daylong celebration will see club members use W3CCH on two HF stations set up inside two retired passenger railroad cars parked outside the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Another group of club operators and friends will use W3BN on two HF stations that belonged to longtime contester Steve Dobbs NE3F in Spring Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Regrettably, Steve – who was extensively involved in the planning for the celebration using his station and array of towers, beams and wire antennas
– died on August 30th following a short illness. It was his family’s wish that the event still proceed from his QTH. Activity on all four HF radios will be on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters with frequent spots on the DX clusters. The railroad earned its place in history starting in the 1830s as the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

For more on this special celebration and the available certificate, check out details at either W3BN or
W3CCH on QRZ-dot.com.

I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V

**
CANADIAN TEENS GAIN LICENSES AFTER HAM RADIO COURSEWORK

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In many parts of the world, school is back in session and regular lessons have resumed. Even before regular classes began, however, 21 teenagers in British Columbia, Canada, were already entrenched in some pretty important homework - or should we say hamwork? Andy Morrison K9AWM has those details.

ANDY: Adam, VE7ZAL, and John, VE7TI, believe that their recent course on radio frequencies and electronics may well be unprecedented for secondary school students in Canada. That was what John wrote in the September/October issue of The Communicator, the magazine of Surrey Amateur Radio Communications. John and Adam, a robotics teacher at Kwantlen Park Secondary school in Surrey, British Columbia, teamed up to help nearly two dozen 13- through 17-year-olds get a better grasp on the principles behind amateur radio and pass the gift of radio on this next generation. By the time the course concluded, the students were able to sit the exam for the Canadian Amateur Radio Certificate.

John wrote that Adam had proposed the idea for the course earlier in the year and that while the instruction progressed, the students' enthusiasm grew gradually with each session. He wrote: [quote]: "Throughout the course, we witnessed students experiencing significant revelations about the pervasive role of radio in our daily lives." [endquote] POTA, satellite communications and high-altitude balloons were - literally - among the high points of the lessons. When the sessions ended, the tradition of a Thursday night "Get on the Air" net kept the momentum going for the graduates.

John and Adam hope to repeat the course next year.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(THE SARC COMMUNICATOR)

**
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM REOPENS AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHOWCASE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A museum in Australia that once gave history lessons about the evolution of the telephone is preparing to reopen as a showcase of telecommunications. Jason Daniels VK2LAW takes a look inside for us.

JASON: In Melbourne, a 1939 building that once housed a telephone exchange and, in 2003 a telecommunications museum, is reopening this month as the National Communications Museum at Hawthorn.

The big day is the 21st of September. When the doors open, visitors will get a vast range of the past and present technologies used in communications throughout Australia. The building had formerly been home to the Victorian Telecommunications Museum, which was run entirely by volunteers from the Australian Historic Telephone Society until the museum's closure in 2019. According to its website, the new museum has inherited some of its collection from its predecessor. Emily Siddons, co-CEO and artistic director, writes on the website that the genesis of the building's design and planning occurred during COVID lockdown with the purpose of exploring human relationships with technology. She writes: [quote] "Ethical exploration of the development of new technologies has never been more urgent, especially given the rapid pace at which they are developing." [endquote]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW

(WIA, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MUSEUM WEBSITE)

**

SRI LANKAN GIRL GUIDES FIND POWER IN HAM RADIO

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Girl Guides in Sri Lanka got some guidance themselves recently from the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, which helped them get on the air. John Williams VK4JJW tells us how it happened.

JOHN: The International Girl Guide Camp that concluded on the 23rd of August left a lasting mark on two thousand Girl Guides from Sri Lanka's nine provinces and showcased the power of amateur radio for them all. The Radio Society of Sri Lanka was there in Ceylon to conduct demonstrations and to help the girls' hands-on experience with radio.

Society volunteers ensured there would be radio capability by setting up for HF, VHF and Echolink communications. The radio society considered it a milestone for the camp with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association getting on the air with an amateur radio club licence of its own through the help of society secretary Victor 4S7VK. The Girl Guides were calling QRZ as 4S7GGA.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

**
WEST BENGAL HAMS HELP PREPARE POLICE FOR DISASTER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Police personnel in West Bengal, India sharpened their disaster-communications skills recently with the help of some seasoned amateur radio mentors. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that story.

JIM: Kolkata police and more than two dozen sub-inspectors of state received an introduction to the ways amateur radio can assist them when catastrophic events leave conventional means of communication disabled. The one-day session in late August at the police training centre in Salt Lake was taught by hams from the West Bengal Radio Club. The session was part of a broader three-day training program on disaster management for police personnel.

The officers also learned what laws govern amateur radio activities and how the laws would apply to their on-air activities. They were reminded that hams need a licence from the Ministry of Telecommunication. More training programmes will be scheduled for the police personnel to bring them closer to getting that licence.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(MILLENNIUM POST)

**
NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR HONORS AT CINCINNATI HAMFEST

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you know of a club in the Great Lakes Region or the Ohio Valley region of the US that has distinguished itself in support of amateur radio, now is the time to let everybody know. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us how.

DAVE: The next Cincinnati Hamfest is still almost a year away but organizers are wasting no time in finding a deserving group of amateurs to receive the award for Great Lakes Region Club of the Year. To be eligible, a club must be located within the Great Lakes region of Kentucky, Ohio or Michigan. Most importantly, clubs that are nominated must demonstrate a passion for amateur radio and be active in its advancement. Cincinnati Hamfest also presents an award for Club of the Year among nominees located within the Ohio Valley region of Indiana, Kentucky or Ohio. Nomination forms for both awards are available at the hamfest website, cincinnatihamfest - that's one word - dot org. (cincinnatihamfest.org)

Cincinnati Hamfest won't be happening until August 9th, 2025 but the months ahead will go quickly, so consider who you might want to nominate for these honors.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(QRZ.COM, CINCINNATI HAMFEST)

**
WORLD OF DX

Two separate activations are on the air in the UK from Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. Tev, TA1HZ, is active as MJ/TA1HZ through to the 16th of September and will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest on the 14th and 15th. See QRZ.com for QSL details, Meanwhile, listen as well for the two-person team of Peter, ON8ZZ and Fred, ON8ZL, on the air from the 13th through to the 15th of September. Their call sign is MJ/OT9Z. The pair will be calling on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. Fred will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest . QSL via ON8ZL.

Listen for 4V1SAVANNAH, the callsign being used by the Radio Club d'Haiti to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Savannah in 1779, during the American Revolution. Hundreds of volunteers from the French colony that later became Haiti fought alongside members of the colonial military against the British Army. The special event will take place from the 16th of September through to the 20th of October. QSL via N2OO (EN TWO OH OH),

The Belgrade Amateur Radio Club is using the callsign YT 100 RB to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Radio Belgrade. A certificate is available. Visit the website yu1ano [Y U One A N O] dot org (yu1ano.org) for details.

(425 DX BULLETIN, WIA)

**
KICKER: A NEW JEWEL IN A SOTA QUEEN'S CROWN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story is about SOTA -- Summits on the Air -- and the achievement that became possible this summer for one YL -- in memory of another. We hear about them both from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: In a recent posting on the SOTA Reflector, Amy AG7GP, shared a thought from Ron Burns, NR3E, as he described his late wife's can-do attitude: [quote] "There are no real hurdles in life, only those that you imagine. Liz was proof that you can do anything you want, no matter what life hands you." [endquote] Ron and his wife, Liz K1LIZ, shared many challenging SOTA activations and hunts until she became a Silent Key in February of 2022. Liz, who was blind for more than three decades, had recently achieved the coveted SOTA standing of Mountain Goat.

The organizers of the inaugural Queens of the Mountains YL SOTA event this past June have added a new jewel to the crown of one Queen of those same mountains: They call the honor the K1LIZ Memorial Achievement Award. It was conferred recently on Lorene W6LOR. Announcing the honor on the SOTA Reflector in a September 7th post, Amy AG7GP praised Lorene for her events during that June weekend. Lorene was presented with a personalized beverage glass. Amy wrote that the honor was being given [quote] "in memory of Liz's indomitable spirit that inspired so many." [endquote]

Queen Lorene's glass is not half-full - it is brimming over with the spirit of a beloved fellow activator who knew that summits were never meant to be hurdles, only opportunities to showcase excellence.


FRIDAY EDITION:
Yet another day in paradise here on Cape Ann, it's almost time to pull the boat out of the harbor. I used it once this summer....It wasn't long ago that Alpha was the amp to own, now iot appears the Mercury Lux is the way to go today and it's American made.

Is That Antenna Allowed? The Real Deal on the FCCs OTARD Rule

The Hackaday comments section is generally a lively place. At its best, it’s an endless wellspring of the combined engineering wisdom of millions of readers which serves to advance the state of the art in hardware hacking for all. At its worst — well, let’s just say that at least it’s not the YouTube comments section.

Unfortunately, there’s also a space between the best and the worst where things can be a bit confusing. A case in point is [Bryan Cockfield]’s recent article on a stealth antenna designed to skirt restrictions placed upon an amateur radio operator by the homeowners’ association (HOA) governing his neighborhood.

Hiding an antenna in plain sight.

Putting aside the general griping about the legal and moral hazards of living under an HOA, as well as the weirdly irrelevant side-quest into the relative combustibility of EVs and ICE cars, there appeared to be a persistent misapprehension about the reality of the US Federal Communications Commission’s “Over-the-Air Reception Devices” rules. Reader [Gamma Raymond] beseeched us to clarify the rules, lest misinformation lead any of our readers into the unforgiving clutches of the “golf cart people” who seem to run many HOAs.

According to the FCC’s own OTARD explainer, the rules of 47 CFR § 1.400 are intended only to prevent “governmental and nongovernmental restrictions on viewers’ ability to receive video programming signals” (emphasis added) from three distinct classes of service: direct satellite broadcasters, broadband radio service providers, and television broadcast services.

Specifically, OTARD prevents restrictions on the installation, maintenance, or use of antennas for these services within limits, such as dish antennas having to be less than a meter in diameter (except in Alaska, where dishes can be any size, because it’s Alaska) and restrictions on where antennas can be placed, for example common areas (such as condominium roofs) versus patios and balconies which are designated as for the exclusive use of a tenant or owner. But importantly, that’s it. There are no carve-outs, either explicit or implied, for any other kind of antennas — amateur radio, scanners, CB, WiFi, Meshtastic, whatever. If it’s not about getting TV into your house in some way, shape, or form, it’s not covered by OTARD.

It goes without saying that we are not lawyers, and this is not to be construed as legal advice. If you want to put a 40′ tower with a giant beam antenna on your condo balcony and take on your HOA by stretching the rules and claiming that slow-scan TV is a “video service,” you’re on your own. But a plain reading of OTARD makes it clear to us what is and is not allowed, and we’re sorry to say there’s no quarter for radio hobbyists in the rules. This just means you’re going to need to be clever about your antennas. Or, you know — move.

ARRL Defends 902-928 Amateur Radio Band

ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® has filed comments [PDF] with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging that the 902 – 928 MHz amateur radio band be protected. ARRL joins hundreds of licensed radio amateurs who utilize the band in opposing a proposal from NextNav Inc., a licensee in the 900-MHz Location and Monitoring Service (LMS), to completely reconfigure the 902 – 928 MHz band and replace the LMS with high-powered 5G cellular and related location services.

Read more about NextNav’s proposal on ARRL News (8/15/2024)

ARRL’s comments, filed by our Washington, D.C. Counsel on behalf of ARRL members and radio amateurs, point out several problems with NextNav’s request.

“Contrary to NextNav’s assertions, the band is extremely crowded with millions of devices and transmitters in operation in multiple services, including the Amateur Service. Adoption of the proposal would result in either massive interference that would prevent proper operation or displacement to other bands. The difficulty is that there are no other bands known to be available, and in fact, some of the Amateur operations in this band are here because they were displaced when a portion of the 420 – 450 MHz band North of “Line A” was closed to the Amateur Service some years ago. Others were displaced from the same band when new Federal Government defense radars were initiated and continued Amateur secondary operations would have interfered with their operation.”

Pushing amateur radio out of heavily used spectrum is a risk to public service, ARRL argues in the comments.

“When space can be found in this band, Amateurs employ it to establish wide-area voice and some television signal repeaters. Others are actively experimenting with digital mesh networks and associated control links. These networks are a testbed for digital design and experimentation, but also are available and used for back-up emergency communications purposes. Still others operate low power beacons for propagation research. Weak signal work – tuning and experimenting to communicate over the longest paths with the least power – also is popular and leads to improvements in equipment.”

Mesh networks are becoming increasingly useful in emergency communications. Just this past week, the ARRL Utah Section announced that dozens of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers are working to expand the mesh network around the state. “The needs of participating agencies have evolved to require more than analog voice and low-speed data modes,” said ARRL Utah Section Public Information Coordinator Scott Rosenbush, K7HSR. “High-speed mesh networks using AREDN® [Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network] software will allow amateur radio to play a larger role in supporting these agencies in emergencies.” The ARRL Utah Section already has a five-county mesh network in place. The proposal from NextNav make it more difficult to operate networks like this one.

Under NextNav’s proposal, the much higher-powered transmitters would be ubiquitous and operating 24/7. The resulting interference would effectively exclude many of the current Amateur operations that are operating in the 902-928 MHz band.”

The FCC docket remains open for reply comments from the public until September 20, 2024.  As of September 6, over 800 comments have been filed by Amateurs and others who use this spectrum.  The comments can be viewed at this link: https://tinyurl.com/ypxh583p. Click here for an ARRL Guide to Filing Comments with FCC. 



THURSDAY EDITION:
911 seemed to be forgotten by the tv media yesterday...Good time to turn on your radio gear and work some dx on 10-15 meters with the added benefit you won't have to listen to the bullshit spewing out of the media about the presidential race....

Geomagnetic storm expected to disrupt radio transmissions on September 12-13

A geomagnetic storm is forecasted to occur on September 12-13, potentially causing interruptions in radio signal transmissions, the Astrophysics Department at the Physics Faculty of Baku State University told Report.

The increased solar activity, attributed to continuous M-class flares, has elevated the Sun’s activity to a high level. These flares are known to block and hinder the propagation of radio waves.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the northwest part of the Sun on September 10 is expected to trigger the geomagnetic storm on Earth, starting from the afternoon of September 12 and lasting until approximately 18:00 (GMT+4) on September 13. During this period, disruptions in the transmission and reception of radio signals may occur.

Currently, the geomagnetic field is quiet but unstable. The effects of the CME will become apparent on Earth between September 12 and 13.

The geomagnetic storm is predicted to reach G1 (mild) levels on the night of September 12, escalate to G2 (moderate) levels until 08:00 (GMT+4) on September 13, and then return to G1 levels until 20:00. Following this, the geomagnetic field is expected to stabilize and return to a quiet state.


911 WEDNESDAY EDITION: Coffee and donuts this morning at the club, all are welcome....

DIPOLE DAY - SATURDAY - SEPT 21. 2024- 11 AM
Our next Radio Active Cape Ann event will be Dipole Day. If you never made an antenna this will be a great place to start. Beware, after making one antenna it is easy to get obsessed.
We have enough material prepared to make ten dipoles from 20m on up. I have prepared insulators, connectors, reels, and lines. I have about 200’ of wire. If you have wire you wish to use, by all means bring it along.
You will measure the wire and cut it to length then assemble the pieces and test it. A couple of taps with a soldering iron and you’re in business. Again, if you never soldered anything, here’s a good place to start. Equipment and instruction will be available. If it is a nice day we will set up a radio and make contacts with your new antenna. If it is raining we will work out of the garage,
668 Washington St, Gloucester
Sept 21 at 11 AM

Francine Updates

Francine update September 10, 2024 Noon Eastern:

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, just participated in a call with the National Weather Service Shreveport, Louisiana Field Office. "Our partners at NWS are closely monitoring the situation and preparing Louisiana for multiple possibilities, that each could change as the situation unfolds," he said.

ARRL members and Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers in the path of the storm should prepare for impacts.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida reports this morning that tropical storm Francine is likely to become a hurricane today, Tuesday September 10, 2024. A hurricane warning has been extended eastward along the Louisiana coast. The storm is now about 125 miles southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande river and 395 miles south-southwest of Ca

Remember to call in to the CHOTA stations on Saturday

Next Saturday, the 14 September, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10am to 4pm and operation will be focused on the 80, 40 and 20m bands. To see the […] Radio Society of Great Britain – Main Site – Read More

Asheville Radio Museum reopens in a larger location

The specialty museum now has more space for you to learn about the history of radio in Asheville.

The grand reopening will begin at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, and the Vintage Radio Market will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to both events is free — find specific directions and parking info.

Pro tip: If you’re planning on visiting the radio museum’s new space, why not make it a day full of history? The Asheville Museum of History is just a short walk away, housed inside the Smith-McDowell house, the oldest brick structure in Buncombe County. Through permanent and rotating exhibits, the museum offers an expansive view of our region’s history and all of the communities that have contributed to it.

TUESDAY EDITION: Beautiful weather here in New England, great time of year to get some antenna work done....I found a very noisy power transformer close to our repeater site at the cell tower. The question is what will National Grid do about it? It is raising havoc with our two meter repeater but not the 440 one. I will start calling this morning and see where it gets me....

It's our pleasure to announce a special event station in the Nijmegen region commemorating 80 years of freedom: PA80OMG. We are back again in 2024 for the fourth consecutive time with this special event station, since last time we added another 5 years to our callsign. We commemorate and celebrate 80 years of freedom. The activities of our special event station will take place from 13 September up to 19 September 2024.   WEB ADDRESS

Amid wildfires and spotty cell service, Northstate residents turn to ham radios (California)

The Northstate is no stranger to disasters or bad reception, but when a phone call isn’t able to go through, a ham radio may just be able to get you the help you need.

“I’m up east of Redding and when the phone system goes out, we don’t have a connection to 911 but the ham radio still works and I can get a hold of somebody somewhere,” said Bob Frampton Secretary of Western Amateur Radio Repeater and Echolink Association Inc. otherwise known as WARREA.

In the age of phones and Wi-Fi, some can take the ease of connecting to the rest of the world for granted, but head even 20 minutes into the mountains from cities like Redding, Red Bluff, and Chico, and you’ll quickly lose cell phone service.

“Cell phone service up here, especially when you get outside the Redding area, the developed areas, is spotty at best. There’s a lot of times where I can get a hold of somebody on the ham radio, I won’t get a hold of over the cell phone,” said Frampton.

Read more – KRCR: https://bit.ly/3MCX7Tu

Ham radio operators to work from Blennerhassett Island (West Virginia)

The Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will activate a Parks on the Air radio station from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on Blennerhassett Island.

The event will make history and reflect on the history of the club, club officials said. The group will be the first amateur radio club to operate from the island, and ham radio operators will have the opportunity to register a two-way communication and gain awards.

“Blennerhassett Amateur Radio Club was the original name of our club back in the 1940s. So, the outing to the island reflects, in part, our own history as the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub and ham operators in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” club member Corey Meadows of Williamstown said.

Read more – Marietta Times: https://bit.ly/4gjNsic


MONDAY EDITION: Late start today, still out chasing rf noise at the site, seems we have several sources of rf interfering with us...

How amateur radio operators keep Lee County connected during disasters

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Losing power, phone lines, and internet service during a hurricane can be both frustrating and dangerous, leaving many people feeling helpless.

However, there’s a dedicated group in Lee County working tirelessly to maintain communication even when traditional systems fail.

NBC2 First Alert Meteorologist Rob Duns sheds light on this essential group: Lee County's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES).

Within the Lee County Emergency Operations Center lies the Amateur Radio Room. While the room itself is modest in size, its impact is significant.

According to Rich Schneiders, who coordinates Lee County ARES, the motto of the group is clear: "When all else fails, Amateur Radio." Schneiders explains that while internet and phone lines might collapse during a disaster, amateur radios can continue to function as long as they have battery power.

Lee County ARES is comprised of volunteer amateur radio operators who step up during emergencies. Volunteers like Carmine Vitrano, Steven Clayton, and Don Domina are critical to the operation.

Vitrano recounts how, in past emergencies, he was the sole means of communication, relaying vital messages in real-time.

Clayton echoes this sentiment, noting the importance of their role in maintaining communication lines.

Domina adds that their work often serves as a backup communication link between shelters and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Although these volunteers may not be visible to the general public during an emergency, their efforts are invaluable. Positioned in evacuation shelters and communities across Lee County, they use reliable ham radios to ensure communication remains intact when conventional methods fail.

“We need to man as many shelters as we can,” Schneiders says. “We’re committed to working with Lee EOC EM to do that and give back to the community that gives to us all the time.”

During hurricanes, volunteers like Vitrano, Clayton, and Domina play a pivotal role in relaying information from various locations in the county to the Amateur Radio Room.

From there, the information is forwarded to the county’s emergency management team, ensuring that critical updates and coordination continue even in the most challenging conditions.

“When you start seeing this person-level when you can help people directly and you see the impacts, it really tugs at your heart,” Vitrano said.

The dedication of Lee County ARES is evident, and they are currently looking for new members to join their ranks and support their mission.

In times of disaster, while modern communication systems might falter, the steadfast reliability of amateur radio operators ensures that Lee County remains connected, proving that sometimes old-school technology is the most dependable.

Hams Respond as Hawaii Threatened by Three Major Storms

In late August, Hawaii’s big island was threatened by three major tropical storms and amateur radio operators were prepared to assist as the threat grew more intense. Russell Roberts, KH6JRM, Public Information Officer, Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section, said that beginning August 23, storm watches and warnings were being issued for tropical storms Hone, Gilma, and Hector, all churning off the island’s southern coast.

By August 31 and September 1, Hone had become a Category 1 hurricane with winds over 75 miles per hour (MPH), occasional gusts to 100 MPH and heavy rain. Gilma was next as a Category 1, but later intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, dropping 28 inches of rain which flooded roads, along with high winds that brought down trees, power and communications lines.

“We had 3 Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) operators on the net for about 24 hours beginning August 30 and they handled 41 contacts,” said Roberts. “Some repeaters were out of fuel, so we switched to HF to pass traffic and assess the damage.”

The storms never made landfall and while there were no fatalities or injuries, the damage was severe. Nearly 30,000 residents were affected. Power is still out for over 200 customers, cleanup and road repair are active.

“We were very fortunate,” said Roberts. “There was concern a fire warning would need to be issued for several parts of the island. But the approaching weather brought rain and lowered temperatures.”

National Preparedness Month: Have a Go Kit

September is National Preparedness Month, and ARRL is working to help radio amateurs have a plan for family resilience. Many hams enjoy public service as part of their operating. Being ready to activate for a served agency through the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) involves not only being licensed and trained, but also prepared and equipped.

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, suggests that hams and their families have a “go-bag”. He says there are a few things to consider: “You need to be able to function while activated, so that means you need a kit for your needs and a kit for your radio needs. If your family is impacted by the situation, they also need to have some gear at the ready.”

On the ARRL website, there’s an Emergency Prep Kit Checklist. It lists the common items such as food and water for several days, a first aid kit, medications, chargers for your devices and other useful items.

Having a kit for your radio is useful as well. “Go kits will vary based on function and need for the field,” said Johnston. “Most kits should include a dual band HT and/or mobile radio with antenna, a power supply and all necessary cables and connectors. Every kit should include note pad or paper of some type as well as pens or pencils. You should have a power source and power cables. If you are working HF then you will need an HF radio and antenna, and if you want digital capabilities, then a computer with software preloaded will be desired.”

Other things you may want will include tape and tools, spare batteries, headphones, flashlights of some sort, cell phone chargers, and a multimeter. Other items that won’t fit in a bag but may be needed include a generator, a working surface like a small folding table, a chair, and some type of shelter.


WEEKEND EDITION:
As you have probably read here, we spent $8000 replacing the 2 meter repeater antenna and hardline and now  we have another problem. We have a S5 broadband noise interfering with our repeater that we need to track down and get remedied asap....My solution is to get the Yaesu 897 at the club and put it on frequency in the AM mode, connect a little directional antenna and go fox hunting. Now to find some volunteers at the club...

Local Radio Club provides emergency communication, connects radio enthusiasts

In an era where digital communication reigns supreme, the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club (PARC) still serves as a vital and vibrant hub for radio enthusiasts and emergency communication services. 

The club’s mission extends beyond casual radio operation; it is essential in the community’s emergency preparedness network, offering an extra lifeline in times of crisis. 

For member Hal Reid, radio is more than just a hobby. It’s a passion deeply rooted in family tradition.

Reid’s interest in radio began with his father, who was both a ham radio operator and commercial radio operator. Reid eventually passed his father’s passion for radio to his wife and five kids who are all licensed amateur radio operators. 

“Growing up, we had radios and that sort of thing ... it was just kind of a natural transition,” said Reid. 

Since moving to the Milledgeville community, Reid has been an active member of the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club for more than 20 years. 

The Piedmont Amateur Radio club, established more than 30 years ago, contains a thriving community of radio enthusiasts from across from Putman County and surrounding areas. 

A significant part of the club’s success can be attributed to its facilities, including an antenna site located east of Eatonton. The site, initially leased for a dollar per year, was later purchased by a club member. The property spans two acres with a 185-foot tower, several buildings, and array of radios. One of the club’s latest editions is a satellite station, which allows club members to communicate with people from all over.

The PARC sustains its activities through a combination of membership dues and donations of surplus equipment. Additionally, the club’s membership varies from highly-technical individuals like engineers to those who are interested in ham radio as a hobby. Other members are drawn by the reliability of ham radio communication in emergency situations. 

“We’ve got probably 20% that are very technical people that have worked in communications,” said Reid. “We have a couple people who are engineers, and then we have what I guess you might call the ‘average bear,’ which is somebody who’s just interested in radio because it’s fun.”

The club offers a wide range of activities and learning opportunities, including satellite communication, digital modes, and even moon bounce. 

“Moon bounce ham radio operators have been bouncing signals off the moon since the mid-‘50s,” said Reid. “But it’s not a simple thing to do. It takes a lot of technology, a lot of a certain amount of engineering, perhaps, but it’s one of those things we just thought it might be fun to do.”

Another aspect of the PARC is deep community involvement, especially when it comes to emergency services. The club operates one of the most advanced Winlink systems in Georgia, allowing email communication over radio signals. With six stations operating 24/7 on different frequencies, the system plays a crucial role during emergencies for when traditional forms of communication are not available. 

“Every time there’s a hurricane, we get a lot of traffic, often messages from people letting family know they’re OK,” said Reid. “The system is quite robust, with some stations running on solar power and built-in redundancy if the internet goes down.”

In addition to emergency preparedness, the club participates in several community events. One such event is Spin for Kids bicycle in Madison, where the club provides communication support for flat tires or other mechanical issues. The profits for the event funds camp experiences for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, or other life challenges. 

The club will take part in a nationwide exercise called Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in early October. The test will be in collaboration with American Radio Relay League (ARRL), giving hospitals a chance to test their preparedness for emergency communications. 

The PARC currently provides emergency communication services for St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greene County, as well as Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Baldwin County, Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper County and Putnam General Hospital in Putnam County. They also offer their services to Central Georgia K9 Search & Rescue Team. 

Club meetings, which are open to the public, take place every second Saturday of each month at the tower site located at 234 Wesley Chapel Road in Eatonton. The meetings include regular club business, followed by a presentation on a topic related to amateur radio. 

For more information on how to get involved or obtain a radio license, visit the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club’s website at k4par.org.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2445

INFORMAL RADIO NETWORK AIDS BANGLADESH FLOOD RESCUE

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Bangladesh where one amateur's distress call led to an informal but highly effective network of rescue communicators. Graham Kemp VK4BB describes the scene.

GRAHAM: In Bangladesh, an informal group of community-based hams mobilised to provide vital communication in the region surrounding Feni district following deadly floods that began on the 19th of August. Hams in the capital city of Dhaka rallied to assist after hearing from a fellow amateur via social media that he was trapped by rising water levels with no emergency response in sight. Abdullah Al Fahad, S21AF, stayed in touch with the amateur and monitored his situation while alerting other area hams. He said in an email: [quote] "We knew we had to act quickly." [endquote] Traditional means of communication were down.

By the 22nd of August, the team's base station was set up at a 15-story building in Feni and a control room established at the office of Feni's deputy commissioner. There, the first group of amateur radio responders coordinated with the office of the deputy commissioner to help in the deployment of rescue and relief teams. Many hams continued to join the effort, bringing along their own personal equipment so the response network could extend its reach. Stations were set up at two army camps so that the deputy commissioner had communication with the army and field rescue teams. Fahad said that another base was set up at a scout headquarters in Dhaka and still another at his QTH.

Over a four-day period the hams kept communication open across a 70-kilometer radius. It was estimated that they helped bring more than 375 rescue operations to fruition - some in remote areas.

With flood water receding, authorities in Bangladesh have since turned their attention to the spread of waterborne illnesses. Some of the hams moved on to assist the flood situation in Noakhali. Fahad told the website, tbsnews.net [quote]: "Even though we weren’t under any official banner, just a group of friends doing what we could, we made a real difference." [endquote] The amateur who had sent out the original distress call to Fahad was rescued after four days.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(TBS NEWS NET, INDIA TODAY, ABDULLAH AL FAHAD S21AF)

**
RASPBERRY PI SEEN AS KEY IN UNDERWATER TRANSMISSION

JIM/ANCHOR: Scientists are hopeful that a Raspberry Pi may be a key component in making underwater communication more effective. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story.

JEREMY: A Raspberry Pi is being used as one of three main components of a modem that is under development by researchers in Italy to make underwater communications more effective and less expensive.

As described in a recent article in the IEEE (EYE Triple E) Spectrum, the Raspberry Pi is the modem's base. There is also a sound card hardware attachment which generates and records audio signals. For undersea operations, most modems use acoustical signals instead of radio because despite the slower rate at which they move, these signals can cover greater distances. Researchers at the University of Padova believe the modem will be a much more affordable alternative for communication with submarines, sensors or other entities. According to the Spectrum article, current modems typically cost at least ten thousand US dollars.

The researchers, Filippo Campagnaro and Michele Zorzi, are also developing a transducer for conversion of energy into acoustic signals and back again. Their more-affordable device is a modification of something typically used to monitor the sounds of marine mammals and costs hundreds, instead of thousands, of US dollars.

By making this technology more affordable, the scientists believe its uses can be extended beyond the military or the offshore oil and gas industries into the realms of biodiversity studies and climate change.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IEEE)


**
SILENT KEY: RICHARD RYBA, WQ3Q, ADVOCATE FOR CANCER RESEARCH, PATIENT ASSISTANCE

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in Pennsylvania and beyond are grieving the loss of a friend who was an advocate for cancer research and cancer patient assistance. We hear about him from Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: A little more than a year ago, Richard Ryba, WQ3Q, put out a call to his fellow hams asking for them to join the on-air team for N3P, a special event station to raise awareness and donations for pancreatic cancer research.

On Thursday, September 5th, the Skyview Amateur Radio Society issued another call during their 2-metre evening net on Richard's behalf. It was a final call: Richard became a Silent Key on the 31st of August, five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the same illness that took the life of his younger brother years earlier. An advocate for supporting research, Richard had been the driving force behind an annual special event station that went on the air throughout the US in conjunction with a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walk-a-thon to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

He was well-known for his devotion to radio as a member and former officer of the Skyview Amateur Radio Society and the Breezeshooters Club of Western Pennsylvania. He recently joined the Southwestern Pennsylvania SKYWARN and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
Richard was known as the designer of the QSL card for K2M, the Pennsylvania colony of the annual 13 Colonies Special Event station, for each of the past four years. He also had a unique way of identifying himself: Because his callsign contained the character combination "Q3Q," he often referred to his QTH as the "shack of quack."

Eddie Misiewicz KB3YRU, net control for the Skyview Thursday night net, said: [quote] "His hope and his positive attitude will continue in all of us." [endquote]

Richard, who had been licensed since 2013, was 74.

This is Travis Lisk, N3ILS.

(EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU)

**
SILENT KEY: PAUL GRAVELINE, K1YUB, AMSAT JOURNAL ASSISTANT EDITOR

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are also mourning the loss of the assistant editor of the AMSAT Journal. We hear more about him from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

NEIL: As both an editor and contributor, Paul Graveline, K1YUB, began his seven-year tenure as an assistant editor for the AMSAT Journal with the publication of the July/August 2017 issue. His deep involvement with AMSAT included being a member of the CubeSatSim Educational Materials Team that is part of AMSAT's educational relations program, using the CubeSat simulator as a learning tool.

Paul, who was born in 1947, became a Silent Key on the 19th of August.

His ham radio career had its roots in his activities as an enthusiastic shortwave listener starting in 1960. Three years later he became an amateur radio operator with a special interest in CW. His love for short-wave listening was undiminished and with a friend he later assisted in the rejuvenation of the listeners' group known as the Boston Area DXers.

Paul wrote about Dr. Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, for a January/February 2022 cover story in the AMSAT Journal. He was also coordinator for her Super Community Project, which seeks to spread a better understanding of space weather.

This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT NEWS)

**
ACMA BEGINS FEE COLLECTION FOR CALLSIGNS WITH 12-MONTH ASSIGNMENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Some hams in Australia may have already noticed some new fees associated with their callsigns - John Williams VK4JJW is here to explain them.

JOHN: Beginning on the 1st of September, hams in Australia will be paying a new fee of $34 for some special types of callsigns that have a 12-month assignment period. Those receiving a contest callsign will be charged $15. Those transferring a callsign to another amateur will be charged $15. Hams with a VK9 or VKØ callsign representing Australian external territories are the ones who will pay $34. The ACMA will send these callsign holders a reminder to renew after the 12-month period; otherwise, the callsign will be made available for re-allocation on the registry.

Meanwhile, hams having two-letter, three-letter and F-series call signs are required to confirm active use of their call every five years but there are no longer any annual fees involved.

An explanation of the new fees and policy from the Australian Communications and Media Authority can be seen on their website in the amateur radio callsign policy document. See the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

**
ROUTE 66 AND 9/11 SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE AIR

JIM/ANCHOR: Two special events are on the air marking very different occasions in US history. The 2024 Route 66 On The Air special event will be active September 7th through to the 15th, celebrating the highway known as the Mother Road. Listen for twenty-three 1x1 callsigns that begin with "W6." From September 8th through to the 12th, hams are marking a more somber moment in history with the K4A Special Event, commemorating the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. See QRZ.com for details of both events.

**
DIGITAL RADIO INTRODUCED FOR NEW ZEALAND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

JIM/ANCHOR: New Zealand is taking the first steps in providing digital radio service for its emergency response teams. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us up to date.

JIM M: A digital radio service for emergency responders has begun its rollout in New Zealand, putting four of the nation's emergency service agencies on the same network for the first time in history. The transmissions on the new Land Mobile Radio network will be used by police, fire and emergency, Wellington Free Ambulance and Hato Hone St. John Ambulance. The push-to-talk transmissions will be fully encrypted.

The rollout of the LMR network will begin in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland in 2025 and the goal is to ultimately serve 11 regions across New Zealand by 2026.

LMR becomes part of the Public Safety Network, joining cellular roaming, which has been in service for the responders since July 2023. The Public Safety Network is spending 10 years and $1.4 billion to bring new devices into play for emergency response.

The announcement by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden did not mention other emergency responders such as LandSAR, the Coast Guard or Civil Defence. According to Next Generation Critical Communications, which is developing New Zealand's Public Safety Network, there is room for other government agencies to come on board later.

This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NZ NET NEWSLETTER, NEXT GENERATION CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS)

**
FREE ONLINE STUDY GUIDES AVAILABLE FOR US TECH, GENERAL LICENSE

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're looking to upgrade your license - or to simply make a start as a Technician - a new online resource has become available, and it's free. We hear the details from Stephen Kinford N8WB.

STEPHEN: Hopeful candidates for the US Technician and General amateur radio licenses can now turn to a free, self-paced study guide being made available on the educational platform known as SuperKnova. The courses were developed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with the help of a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. Both the Technician course and the upgrade to General Class focus heavily on the fundamentals of the electromagnetic spectrum and the basics of radio waves and propagation. The observatory said that this makes the material valuable for those in disciplines outside amateur radio too, such as individuals involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers. The coursework makes use of license study materials from the ARRL.

Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS, the project instructor, said in a press release that [quote] "This is a great opportunity to share amateur radio with a new generation of potential ham radio enthusiasts. We’ve designed this course to introduce learners to the electromagnetic spectrum while developing radio skills and knowledge.” [endquote]

This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(ARDC)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Col, MMØNDX and Steve, MMØSAJ using the callsign 3A/MMØNDX and 3A/MMØSAJ from Monaco until the 9th of September. They are focusing on the low bands during their evening hours and on 6 metres QSL both calls via EB7DX and LoTW.

Michele [pron: MEE-KELL], IZ8PWN is active holiday style as 8Q7WN from the Maldives, IOTA number AS-013, through to the 13th of September, using SSB and FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via I8KHC.

Listen for Greg, N9GB will be active holiday style as J3/N9GB from Grenada through to the 10th of September using CW and SSB on 40-10 metres and some operation on 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

A team of operators using the callsign EJ7NET (namely EI3HA, EI3ISB, EI5KO, EI6FR and EI9JF) will be on the air from the 7th through to the 11th of September from Inis Mor, Aran Islands, IOTA Number EU-006. They will be using CW, SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. QSL direct to EI6FR.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: AN ELECTRIFYING DISCOVERY ABOUT BEES

JIM/ANCHOR: For our final story, the buzzword is "electricity" - and it really, really, IS the BUZZWORD, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The University of Bristol's Botanic Garden in Stoke Bishop was all abuzz with bees on the 24th and 25th of August as visitors learned about the importance bees have as pollinators and agents of change in the overall environment. It was not so long ago, though, that the university's researchers made a sweet and surprising discovery about something else: They found that swarms of honeybees are capable of generating electrical charges in the atmosphere, ones that rival those of thunderstorm clouds. In fact, the more dense the swarm, the bigger the electrical charge.

The scientists recorded currents from swarms passing over a campus field station during 3-minute intervals. They recorded as many as 1,000 volts per metre.

The research was published nearly two years ago in the Smithsonian magazine and the journal, iScience. Don't get too excited about applying bee power to any amateur radio operation going portable in the vicinity of an apiary. According to an article in the magazine, Popular Science, 50 billion bees would be needed to provide power to an LED light. That means even the smallest of the small rigs could not even hope to get on the air, operating Q R Bee.

FRIDAY EDITION:
Pulled the carb off the chainsaw and found the rubber diaphragms are pretty stiff, decided to order a replacement carb on Amazon, only $17.00 and includes sparkplug, tubing, and fuel filter- how the hell they do that is beyond me and free shipping to boot...Plumbing at club needs work, one of the col water shutoff valves is stuck, more investigation is needed in the moldy, spider infested basement today.

 Ham radio operators to tune in event from Blennerhassett Island

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will activate a Parks on the Air radio station from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on Blennerhassett Island.

The event will make history and reflect on the history of the club, club officials said. The group will be the first amateur radio club to operate from the island, and ham radio operators will have the opportunity to register a two-way communication and gain awards.

“Blennerhassett Amateur Radio Club was the original name of our club back in the 1940s. So, the outing to the island reflects, in part, our own history as the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub and ham operators in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” club member Corey Meadows of Williamstown said.

“Blennerhassett Island is a unique (Parks on the Air) island. Ham operators can activate the island from the shoreline, providing the station sets up at the island’s museum in downtown Parkersburg,” he said. “We wanted to make some of our own history by actually being on-site.”

Meadows shares responsibility of the Parks on the Air activations with a committee.

By coincidence, the state of Ohio this weekend will conduct statewide Parks on the Air activations, he said.

Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will have an opportunity to work for various awards by contacting other Parks on the Air stations, Meadows said.

Three ways are available to make progress toward awards with Parks on the Air, Meadows said.

Activators, hunters and park-to-park contacts make up the three types of contacts, he said.

Operators who put the stations on the air are activators. People who tune around and contact the activated stations are hunters. Activated stations who contact other activated stations, while both are on the air at the same time, are park-to-park.

Each activated station, park and its location and identifying number are posted on the internet, which aids all three type stations to have success with contacting the various activations, he said.

“Parks on the Air isn’t just about having fun and competing, “ Larry Dale, president of the club, said. “It’s an exercise for international radio operations to promote emergency awareness and preparedness from national/federal and state/provincial-level parks.”

The public is invited to view the operations, he said. Information will be available about obtaining a ham radio license, which also is available at the club website W8PAR.org.

2024 Tiny Games Contest: Morse Quest Goes Where You Do

Do you know Morse code already? Or are you maybe trying to learn so you can be an old school ham? Either way, you could have a lot of fun with [felix]’s great little entry into the 2024 Tiny Games Contest — Morse Quest.

This minimalist text-based adventure game is played entirely in Morse code. That is, the story line, all the clues, and the challenges along the way are presented by a blinking LED. In turn, commands like LOOK, TAKE, and INVENTORY are entered with the slim key on the lower right side. A wee potentiometer allows the player to adjust the blink rate of the LED, so it’s fun for all experience levels. Of course, one could always keep a Morse chart handy.

The brains of this operation is an Arduino Nano, and there’s really not much more to the BOM than that. It runs on a 9 V, so theoretically it could be taken anywhere you want to escape reality for a while. Be sure to check out the demo video after the break.

Blog – Hackaday Read More


THURSDAY EDITION: Chainsaw repair day here, the Homelite XL16 needs the carb to come off and get soaked and blown out over at the shop....switching the 2 meter repeater out later in day, the Kenwood 850 bit the dust and I will replace it with a Yaesu one we have kicking around.....busy day

This is an AI Free Zone! Text created by Large Language Models is spreading rapidly across the Internet. It's well-written, artificial, frequently inaccurate. If you find a mistake on Spaceweather.com, rest assured it was made by a real human being.

 

UNEXPECTED CME IMPACT: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field today, Sept. 4th at 1030 UTC. The unexpected impact jolted the USGS magnetometer in Boulder, CO, by 40 nT, a fairly stout blow. A G1 geomagnetic storm watch is in effect as a result of the CME's arrival. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

SOLAR CYCLE 25 CONTINUES TO SURGE: Solar activity continues to intensify. In August 2024, the average monthly sunspot number exceeded 200 for the first time in 23 years, almost doubling the official forecast:

The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) wasn't expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be weak like its immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. Already in May 2024 we have experienced a century-class geomagnetic storm with auroras sighted in the South Pacific, central America and south Africa.

The last time sunspot counts were this high, in Sept.-Dec. 2001, the sun was winding up to launch the Great Halloween Storms of '03, which included the strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded (X45) and a CME so potent it was felt by Voyager at the edge of the solar system. A repeat is not guaranteed, but current sunspot counts tell us it's possible.

FULL ARTICLE


WEDNESDAY EDITION:
Coffee, donuts, and lots of entertainment this morning at the club from 10-noon

ARRL VEC Services Update During Systems Disruption

ARRL previously reported that we are responding to a serious incident involving access to our network and headquarters-based systems. Several services have been affected, including those administered by the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC).

Exam Registrations and Materials. ARRL Volunteer Examiners (VEs) should continue to submit exam registrations and material requests. We are able to post new or revised exam session dates and details to the website, we continue to ship out exam materials. Please remember that most exam materials are available on our website (www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves).

Processing Applications to the FCC. We are processing Amateur Radio License applications to the FCC. This includes applications for new and upgrade licenses, individual applications, and club license applications. The VEC exam session upload webpage was not affected by the incident. The VE session counts webpage data entry programming has been unavailable since May 12th. It will be updated with new data as soon as we are able. 

VE Accreditations, International Radio Permits and License Class Certificates. We are unable to create Volunteer Examiner (VE) badges, certificates, and stickers. New ARRL VE applications and renewals are unable to be processed at this time. International Amateur Radio Permits and License Class Certificates are being created and shipped.

2024 – 2028 Extra Class Exam Booklets. A previous version of this story indicated that the ARRL VEC will supply its officially appointed, field-stocked VE team leaders with the new Extra-class exam booklet designs around mid-June. Due to ARRL’s recent system disruption, the shipment was delayed. The exam booklets were shipped out July 8 and should be have been delivered before August 1. VE Teams may contact the ARRL VEC to receive instructions on how to print new Extra exams in the interim. The newly revised pool must be used for Extra-class license exams starting July 1, 2024. Exam designs based off the previous pool are no longer valid. The outdated versions of the Extra exams should be destroyed or thrown away to avoid a mix-up at the testing session.

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program | FCC Application Fee Reimbursement Information. ARRL is continuing to accept reimbursement forms to cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years of age for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL VEC. Reimbursement checks may take longer than normal to be processed at this time.

We appreciate your patience as ARRL continues to work on restoring access to affected systems and services.

Ham radio operators propose use of wireless radio sets

Kolkata: The organisation of ham radio operators in Bengal has written to the principal secretary of Health department recommending the use of radio wireless sets in shadow zones of state hospitals. The West Bengal Radio Club, in its letter, claimed that in a number of hospitals, the mobile network does not function properly, making it difficult to reach out to others through mobile calls. “The use of radio wireless sets will ensure communication even from such shadow zones. There will be a panic button in the wireless set which when pressed will alert the hospital’s control room and the nearest police station. So, if a woman is in distress, she can just press the panic button and immediate interventions can be made,” said Ambarish Nag Biswas of West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC). Also Read - Bengal minister appears for ED questioning in school jobs scam The recommendation of use of such wireless sets assume significance in the backdrop of the recent rape and murder of a female post graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. WBRC has been working in close coordination with the state government, assisting it to establish communication in case of natural disasters that often snaps normal communication systems. During elections, the WBRC has been instrumental in providing seamless communication through ham radio stations in shadow zones in remote areas of Sunderbans. Radio wireless sets that emit signals within a range of 2 km are available in the market. “We can also extend assistance in training or mock drills,” Nag Biswas added. “We have received the letter and are examining the proposal,” said a Health department official.

TUESDAY EDITION:
A cool start to  a beautiful day...after I finish stacking the last of the biobicks into the basement I have to complete the bathroom at the radio club.

Estate Planning for Hams (What happens to all your stuff?)

August is National Make-a-Will month. Some estimates show that nearly two-thirds of Americans don't have a plan. For some, it's procrastination. Others don't know where to start. “So many times we hear from the family of a Silent Key who are overwhelmed with what to do with a lifetime worth of amateur radio gear,” said ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. “Simply thinking through what needs to be done ahead of time can prevent the stress on our loved ones after we are gone.” 

ARRL this week held a webinar, hosted by Beal and Dino Papas, KLØS, to discuss the first steps of planning. “It is something that, unfortunately, doesn’t get a lot of attention. The bottom-line up front is, ‘what happens to all our beloved ham gear when that inevitable day comes along that we become a Silent Key?’... Unfortunately, that day may arrive unexpectedly – so we need to prepare ahead of time to make it as simple as possible for our families,” said Papas.

On the ARRLHQ YouTube channel, you can see a replay of the 52-minute presentation, along with the question-and-answer section at the end.

“Your station is an asset, just like anything else you’ve built and put resources into. Deciding now what happens when you become a Silent Key can help solidify your legacy to ham radio,” said Beal. The ARRL Legacy Circle recognizes the generosity of individuals who have planned support for ARRL through wills, trusts, life insurance gifts, and other ways. The ARRL Legacy Circle ensures that ARRL and amateur radio will continue to thrive for generations to come.

New 2 GB Raspberry Pi 5 Has Smaller Die and 30% Lower Idle Power Usage

Recently Raspberry Pi released the 2GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5 with a new BCM2712 SoC featuring the D0 stepping. As expected, [Jeff Geerling] got his mitts on one of these boards and ran it through its paces, with positive results. Well, mostly positive results — as the Geekbench test took offence to the mere 2 GB of RAM on the board and consistently ran out of memory by the multi-core Photo Filter test, as feared when we originally reported on this new SBC. Although using swap is an option, this would not have made for a very realistic SoC benchmark, ergo [Jeff] resorted to using sysbench instead.

Naturally some overclocking was also performed, to truly push the SoC to its limits. This boosted the clock speed from 2.4 GHz all the way up to 3.5 GHz with the sysbench score increasing from 4155 to 6068. At 3.6 GHz the system wouldn’t boot any more, but [Jeff] figured that delidding the SoC could enable even faster speeds. This procedure also enabled taking a look at the bare D0 stepping die, revealing it to be 32.5% smaller than the previous C1 stepping on presumably the same 16 nm process.

Although 3.5 GHz turns out to be a hard limit for now, the power usage was interesting with idle power being 0.9 watts lower (at 2.4 W) for the D0 stepping and the power and temperatures under load also looked better than the C1 stepping. Even when taking the power savings of half the RAM versus the 4 GB version into account, the D0 stepping seems significantly more optimized. The main question now is when we can expect to see it appear on the 4 and 8 GB versions of the SBC, though the answer there is likely ‘when current C1 stocks run out’.

Authorities in Jefferson County learn backup communication method

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. -- The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has begun training in a new form of communication.

The team posted a picture on Facebook of its members at its first ever Amateur Radio Training class.

Members in the training learning the rules and regulations, along with other necessary information to become Amateur Radio Operators.

"We are striving to learn alternative communication means in case the current infrastructure ever goes down," the sheriff's office stated over the weekend.

Jefferson County communicators were joined by members of the Mt. Vernon Police Department's Communications Division.


LABOR DAY WEEKEND EDITION
: A murky start today, a little muggy here on the island. ....

ARRL Club Grants Will Be Awarded in November

Applications for the 2024 ARRL Club Grants program are now being reviewed (the application period closed July 26, 2024).

ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, said 110 grant applications have been received and the awards will be announced in late November. “Grants are available up to $25,000 and emphasis is given to projects that are transformative in nature,” said Walters.

Examples of projects include but are not limited to getting on the air projects, ham training and skills development through mentoring, STEM and STEAM learning through amateur radio, station resources for use by the ham community, and emergency communications and public service projects that emphasize training.

“Since 2022, $500,000 has been distributed to amateur radio clubs,” said Walters. “With this year’s awards, that total will increase to $1,000,000 awarded.

The ARRL Club Grants are administered by The ARRL Foundation.

Resilience Through Amateur Radio for National Preparedness Month

Amateur radio is an excellent tool for community resilience in times of crisis. The utility value of the critical communications it provides is enhanced by having well trained local Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) groups and other teams. However, to maximize the value to yourself, your family, and your community; an operator must be prepared. September is National Preparedness Month. …American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources – Read More

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

ARRL DISCLOSES IT MADE $1-MILLION PAYMENT TO HACKERS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Newington, Connecticut where the ARRL now acknowledges that it resolved last spring's cyberhacking incident by paying a hefty ransom. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us more details.

KENT: The ARRL has disclosed that it agreed to a $1-million ransom payment to the hackers who disrupted its computers and servers on May 15th, stealing data and taking many of its services down. Writing on its webpage the league described the attack as [quote] "an act of organized crime," characterizing the initial demand payout as "exorbitant," in exchange for access to decryption tools. The ARRL said that the final amount was agreed upon only after extensive negotiation and that the sum - and the price tag for restoring the systems - is being covered by insurance.

The ARRL said that although the hackers did not get any sensitive information from its members, it confirmed in July that the ransomware did access personal data of an estimated 150 employees who have since been provided with free identity-protection services.

In July, the ARRL board created its Information Technology Advisory Committee. Members are being drawn from IT industry professionals as well as those on the league staff and board who have experience in the field.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(ARRL)

**
YOTA CAMP BLOG RECOUNTS CZECH REPUBLIC ADVENTURE

PAUL/ANCHOR: As the summer wraps up in the Northern Hemisphere, so too does the Youngsters on the Air camp that took place in the Czech Republic. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story.

JEREMY; Campers finished their week of immersion in amateur radio and friendship at the Youngsters on the Air camp on Friday the 23rd of August. Now all that's left is to remember the experience and to share it. Rhys Williams, MØWGY/AJ6XD, who represented the Radio Society of Great Britain at the camp, wrote a daily blog that recounts such daily activities as kit-building, balloon launching and operation of the special callsign OL24YOTA. If you weren't one of the campers, you can read the blog and experience that memorable week vicariously in words and pictures.

Visit the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script. The camp was organised by the Czech Radio Club and the Youth Working Group of IARU Region 1.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/yota/yota-summer-camps/yota-czechia-2024/updates-from-yota-czechia-2024/ ]

(RSGB)

**
HAMS REUNITE MAN, "DEAD" FOR A DECADE, WITH FAMILY

PAUL/ANCHOR: In India, a missing man's family believed they'd never see him again until - one decade later - hams helped bring him home. We have those details from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: The headlines in local Indian media called the man "dead for a decade" but the former mathematics teacher, said to affected by mental illness, has been returned home to his father and other family members with the help of a network of amateur radio operators.

Reports in The Times of India and the Deccan Herald said that area residents near the border of India and Bangladesh noticed a man standing by a large patch of wet soil, writing and solving mathematical problems there with a large stick. They told the newspapers that he seemed otherwise disoriented, which stirred their concern. The police were contacted and, wanting to expand the search for family beyond the immediate area, authorities reached out to the West Bengal Radio Club, which is known for its success in missing-persons cases because of its connections among radio operators in India. Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, the secretary of the radio club, told Newsline in a text message that he and club member Parimal Roy, VU3ZIM, were able to circulate photos of the man to clubs in the region. Ultimately, authorities were contacted by the man's father.

According to the newspaper accounts, the man, who is now in his 40s, apparently developed mental problems more than a decade ago and disappeared, leaving his family to believe they would not see him alive again.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(TIMES OF INDIA, DECCAN HERALD, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA)

**
SILENT KEY: PATRICIA NELSON, KEØQXD, TRAINER, VOLUNTEER, RADIO HOST

PAUL/ANCHOR: During a moment of silence at the most recent board meeting of the ARRL, attendees paused to remember several Silent Keys from this year. One of them left her mark nationally as a tireless volunteer and radio enthusiast. We hear about her from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: This past winter, Amateur Radio Digital Communications announced that Pat Nelson, KEØQXD, had recently joined their Conduct Review Committee. Familiar with her tireless spirit, they were looking forward to working with her. That partnership never happened. Pat died suddenly a few days later on January 29th. The contributions she could have made would have been the latest in an amateur radio tenure marked by creativity and a capacity for giving and volunteering. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, Pat had a long association with KFAI radio, a community broadcast station as a host and volunteer. A certified specialist in IT, she also assisted with programming and ran a company, NelsonWorks LLC, which provided computer training and support.

When she joined the station, she became friends with Mike Stapp KEØWW, a longtime ham who introduced her to amateur radio. For Pat, that marked yet another beginning: She became licensed in 2018 and her commitment grew over the years. In 2022 she produced and hosted a special program on KFAI in honor of International Women's Day, focusing on women active in amateur radio. Pat also became a Volunteer Examiner at the Aurora Amateur Radio Group and served on its VE advisory board. She was a lifetime member of the OMIK Amateur Radio Association, an international group founded in 1952 by Black radio amateurs and she had previously served the association as secretary.

In January 2023, Pat became the first guest speaker at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Ham Radio Project in Virginia, led by Jesse Alexander WB2IFS. Supported by the ARDC, the project familiarizes students with amateur radio and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Pat was 68.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(JESSE ALEXANDER, WB2IFS; ARRL, ARDC)

**
ARES TO ADOPT INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM INTO TRAINING

PAUL/ANCHOR: Things have changed since the early years when ham radio operators stepped up to offer their communication skills during emergencies. The ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which began in 1935, is in the midst of bringing some of its protocol up to date, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or ARES, is being brought into alignment with many of the agencies it serves by adopting the National Incident Management System's Incident Command system. This is an initiative of the ARRL to update the training of ARES members to better meet the needs of its partners.

A statement by the ARRL reads, “This is a first step towards our long-term goal of being recognized by our served partner agencies as the “gold standard” of volunteer communications support based upon ARES members’ unique expertise and capabilities.

The training has several levels and specialization areas to provide amateurs with a consistent track to advance their skills as well as their understanding of emergency communications practices. The Incident Command system is used throughout government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to manage efficient deployment of assistance and cooperation at incidents such as severe weather or natural disasters.
**
SPOTLIGHT ON MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR

PAUL/ANCHOR: At a recent meeting of council members in one Mississippi municipality, a seasoned emergency communicator was honored with a few moments in the spotlight We hear about him from Don Wilbanks AE5DW.

DON: Tom Kelly, AB6Z, of the Pearl River Emergency Amateur Radio League in Mississippi, was recognized at the top of the Picayune city council agenda for his contribution to emergency services in the county. The retired Homeland Security professional, who has more than four decades in law enforcement, deploys communication assistance when it is needed by the fire and police chiefs.

Tom described the league's plans and goals and explained the kind of training involved for league members, who learn to dispatch and manage radio operators, deliver messages via radio and read radar screens. Tom said the league is hoping to assist even more members in qualifying for their amateur radio licenses.

In Picayune Mississippi, this is Don Wilbanks AE5DW.

(THE PICAYUNE ITEM)

**
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES A SPECTRUM OF EXPERIENCE

PAUL/ANCHOR: You may not think of the electromagnetic spectrum as a museum exhibit, but one amateur radio club in Indiana put it on display - and showed it in action - at the Terre Haute Children's Museum recently. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us how it happened.

ANDY: Laurel Tincher, program manager of the Terre Haute Children's Museum, called QRZ, in a manner of speaking and the Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association answered that call. She invited the club to present a day of ham-related activities to showcase the kinds of things amateur radio can do. According to club president Kevin Berlen, K9HX, 100 or so visitors on Saturday the 24th of August got that opportunity. They participated in a radio-related scavenger hunt and enjoyed activities that taught them a little more about Morse Code. As the hams made QSOs on SSB using a remote-controlled HF station, the youngsters got a better understanding of what HF propagation can do.

The visitors didn't just take away a better understanding of amateur radio - one lucky youngster won the random drawing for a small STEM robotics kit. According to Kevin, quite a few of them expressed an interest in working toward getting their license.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(KEVIN BERLEN, K9HX)

**

TRANSISTOR PROMISES FASTER, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT OPERATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: A new type of transistor is in the works inside a US campus laboratory. It is resilient and super-fast but, for now, it is still a work in progress, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: A new transistor in development inside a Massachusetts laboratory is said to be extremely tough and resilient and offer super-fast switching, while meeting - or even exceeding - industry standards.

Researchers at MIT first announced the transistor's development in 2021 when they published the results of their study which explored the use of an ultra-thin ferroelectric material made from boron nitride. At that time the report was carried in the journal, Science, researchers wrote only of the possibilities.

Now it is a reality. Working inside the laboratory, the scientists created that faster, more energy-efficient transistor and they claim that even after 100 billion switches, there are no signs of degradation. Researchers told Popular Mechanics magazine that, for electronic devices such as computers, this eliminates the need for selective storage on a chip. Scientists also say that boron nitride has another advantage: it remains stable over long periods of time because its polarization can be reversed when there is an electric field.

The next reality - actually manufacturing it - could be a lot tougher. Scientists acknowledged that despite the great gains in this development, they still don't have a way to mass produce it.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(POPULAR MECHANICS, MIT NEWS)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, there are two opportunities to get the South Cook Islands in your log. Listen for Bob, ZL1RS, calling QRZ as E51EME from Rarotonga, IOTA Number OC-013, from the 23rd of August through to the 15th of September. His operation is mainly 6-metre FT8 using ionospheric propagation. He will also operate 6-metre EME using the Q65-60A mode from WSJT-X. See QRZ.com for QSL details. You can also listen for Tom, N2WLG who will be on the air with the callsign E51WLG from Rarotonga, IOTA Number OC-013 from the 1st through to the 8th of September. He will operate CW and digital modes on 40-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details

Listen for Giuseppe, IK5WWA, calling QRZ as IMØC [EYE EMM ZERO SEE] from San Pietro Island, IOTA Number EU-165 from the 1st through to the 15th of September 40-2 metres. QSL via his home call.

Harald DF2WO will be back in Burkina Faso operating holiday style as XT2AW starting September 8th for about 14 days. Listen on 10-80 metres SSB and FT4. He will also be using the QO100 satellite. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for the callsign TM4ØIPC from the 28th through to the 8th of September during the Paris Paralympic Games. The callsign is being operated by members of the RadioPole Associatif REF-40, F4KLM. QSL via F6DZU and LoTW.

(425 DX NEWS)

**
KICKER: NEW POTA SITE REALLY FLOATS THEIR BOAT

PAUL/ANCHOR: Late last year, Parks on the Air, or POTA, added more parks in the US. In Indiana, this meant that suddenly a yellow dot appeared on the map just off of the shore of Porter Beach in the Indiana Dunes State Park. While initially this looked like a mistake, it turned out to be the JD Marshall Nature Preserve, US-10256, the site of a Great Lakes cargo ship which sunk in 1911. The park is completely underwater -- accessible only by boat.

Nothing excites a POTA activator more than seeing a zero in the “number of activations” field on the website. That’s when Eric Kurtz, KE9AEB, chief of the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, started calling his friends.

Kurtz told Newsline: [quote] “I ended up creating a POTA account and realized that the JD Marshall was the only park in the State Of Indiana that had never been activated. Being a lakefront community, and being involved with the volunteer fire department, we’re fortunate that some of our members are boat owners and some of our members are amateur radio licensees and I put those pieces together so we could activate the JD Marshall.” [endquote]

So assistant Fire Chief Dave Zak, a marina and boat owner, took six hams and their gear out onto Lake Michigan on Saturday, August 24th and moored above the wreck. I was one of those hams. The hams got right to it and in the space of a little under three hours, had logged 118 contacts including France. Active calls included K9ODF, the fire department club call, as well as the personal calls N9ITB and WD9GCO.

Chris Lattimer, N9MMR, member of the fire department and founding member of the club, called it an amazing opportunity to be out on Lake Michigan operating an HF station from a boat. His son Tavas, KD9NSC, communications officer for the fire department, assembled the gear, tested everything beforehand and handled contact logging.

Two others on board were Tommy Stecic, KE2CCX and Jack Albert, N9ITB, an experienced activator and my POTA buddy.

The group was awarded credit for the first activation of the park.

And their very first contact? Well, it was a ham from New York with the call KD2GUT.

That’s right. Our own Caryn Eve Murray.

Congratulations to all involved for an activation that went beyond expectations. Amateur radio is a varied hobby and as we often say "whatever floats your boat" is fine.


HAMS YOU MIGHT KNOW

 K1TP- Jon....Editor of As The World Turns....
WB1ABC- Ari..Bought an amp and now we can here him on 75 meters, worships his wife, obsessed with Id'ing
N1BOW-Phil...Retired broadcast engineer, confused and gullible, cheap, only uses singl ply toilet paper
KB1OWO- Larry...Handsome Fellow ,only cuts lawn in August, plows snow the rest in Jackman, Maine
W1GEK- Big Mike....Nearfest Cook, big motor home, electronics software engineer ...
AA1SB- Neil...Living large traveling the country with his girlfriend...loves CW
N1YX- Igor....peddles quality Russian keys, software engineer
K1BGH...Art.....Restores cars and radio gear, nice fella...
N1XW.....Mike-easy going, Harley riding kind of guy!
K1JEK-Joe...Easy going, can be found at most ham flea market ...Cobra Antenna builder..
KA1GJU- Kriss- Tower climbing pilot who cooks on the side at Hosstrader's...
W1GWU-Bob....one of the Hosstrader's original organizers, 75 meter regular, Tech Wizard!!!
K1PV- Roger....75 meter regular, easy going guy...
W1XER...Scott....easy going guy, loves to split cordwood and hunt...
KB1VX- Barry- the picture says it all, he loves food!
KC1BBU- Bob....the Mud Duck from the Cape Cod Canal, making a lot of noise.
W1STS- Scott...philosopher, hat connoisseur,
KB1JXU- Matthew...75 meter regular...our token liberal Democrat out of Florida
K1PEK-Steve..Founder of Davis-RF....my best friend from high school 
K9AEN-John...Easy going ham found at all the ham fests
K1BQT.....Rick....very talented ham, loves his politics, has designed gear for MFJ...
W1KQ- Jim-  Retired Air Force Controller...told quite a few pilots where to go!
N1OOL-Jeff- The 3936 master plumber and ragchewer...
K1BRS-Bruce- Computer Tech of 3936...multi talented kidney stone passing ham...
K1BGH- Arthur, Cape Cod, construction company/ice cream shop, hard working man....
W1VAK- Ed, Cape Cod, lots of experience in all areas, once was a Jacques Cousteus body guard....
K1BNH- Bill- Used to work for a bottled gas company-we think he has been around nitrous oxide to long
W1HHO- Cal...3941 group
K1MPM- Pete...3941 group
WA1JFX- Russell...3941

SILENT KEYS

Silet Key KA1BXB-Don...Regular on 3900 mornings....just don't mention politics to him, please!
Silent Key N1IOM- 3910 colorful regular
Silent Key WS1D- Warren- "Windy" - Bullnet
Silent Key KMIG-Rick....75 Meter Regular....teaches the future of mankind, it's scary!
Silent Key Neil -K1YPM .....a true gentleman
Silent Key K1BXI- John.........Dr. Linux....fine amateur radio op ....wealth of experience...
Silent KeyVA2GJB- Graham...one of the good 14313 guys back in the day.
Silent Key K1BHV- David...PITA
Silent Key W1JSH- Mort...Air Force man
Silent Key K1MAN--Glen....PITA
Silent KeyKB1CJG-"Cobby"- Low key gent can be found on many of the 75 meter nets.........
Silent KeyWB1AAZ- Mike, Antrim, NH, auto parts truck driver-retired
Silent KeyWB1DVD- Gil....Gilly..Gilmore.....easy going, computer parts selling, New England Ham..
Silent Key W1OKQ- Jack....3936 Wheeling and Dealing......keeping the boys on there toes....
Silent Key W1TCS- Terry....75 meter regular, wealth of electronic knowledge...
Silent Key WIPNR- Mack....DXCC Master, worked them all!.. 3864 regular for many years...
Silent Key WILIM- Hu....SK at 92... 3864 regular for many years...
Silent Key N1SIE- Dave....Loves to fly
Silent Key:N1WBD- Big Bob- Tallest ham, at 6'10", of the 3864 group
Silent Key: W1FSK-Steve....Navy Pilot, HRO Salesman, has owned every radio ever built!
Silent Key: W4NTI-Vietnam Dan....far from easy going cw and ssb op on 14275/313
Silent Key:K1FUB-Bill- Loved ham radio....